Grenada, November 1786 to December 1787 : Despatches : Correspondence; Acts and Legislation; Legal document; Minutes; Returns 21 Nov 1786 - 5 Dec 1787.

Format:

Other

Contributor:

Adam Matthew Digital (Firm), digitiser.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Settler colonialism--West Indies.

Settler colonialism.

Grenada.

Mathew, Edward.

Lucas, William.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Marlborough, Wiltshire : Adam Matthew Digital, 2021.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

CO 101/25/1. Draft; reports he has laid before the King the letters and enclosures sent by Lieutenant General Mathew dated 13 October, 11 and 18 November 1783; reports King is pleased with his conduct respecting the relieving of Government from the expenses attendant on the Hospital Establishment for the troops under Mathew's command; refers to possession of Grenada and state of fortifications; refers to case of Mr. Daniel Molly, who has served in the Black Corps that came from South Carolina; refers to claim of Major General St. Leger to the 'voluntary payment made by the merchants of St. Lucia to the Commanding Officer on that island for granting permissions of Entry and Departure of Neutral Vessels importing Produce from the captured Islands, during the time he commanded these'. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 2 - 4. 12 Jan 1784. CO 101/25/2. Draft; reports to Lieutenant General Mathew that Monsieur Le Comte d'adhimar [Comte d'Adhemar], Ambassador from France, has applied for an Extract from the Registers of Burials in Island of Grenada, in order to furnish legal proof of the death of the Dame Magdelaine de Thein, Widow of the Sieur Danglebermes, and wife by second marriage of the Sieur Rechou, and who it is said died in Grenada on 21 November 1781; wants Mathew to look at register and if an entry is found provide a Certificate; encloses copy of Ambassador's note. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 5 - 8. 16 Feb 1784. CO 101/25/3. Expresses 'sincere and hearty thanks' for letters he has received; arrived in Grenada on 8 January to act in the office to which he had been appointed, but was surprised to find that the present officer would not resign his commission. W. Baylis, Grenada, Folios 9 - 10. 26 Jan 1784. CO 101/25/4. Draft; transmits to Governor Mathew memorials presented to the King from the Count and Countess de Riquebourg asking to order the execution of a royal decree of 29 August 1783, agreeable to the terms of the Twenty Second Article of the late Definitive Treaty of Peace [transmits a copy of this article]; King wants every assistance to be given to the Count and Countess in the demands for the recovery of their property. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 11 - 21. 5 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/5. Draft; reports he has presented Governor Mathew's letters with enclosures to the King; King is perfectly satisfied that there was not a lack of effort to regain the possession of the Islands in the West Indies, to be restored by the Treaty of Peace; appears somewhat extraordinary that the Court of France delayed for so long forwarding instructions to the Viconto de Damas; reference to staff appointments, troops provisions; surplus provisions Mathew intends to send to the Bahama Islands. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 22 - 25. 19 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/6. Reports that troops having taken possession of Grenada on morning of 6 January, he immediately called together the members of Council and he and council have taken oaths; actions regarding re-establishment of British Laws; reports he has 'made every possible Enquiry relative to the complaint of negroes carried off by the Sieur L'Escallier, exhibited in the Memorial some time since transmitted by Your Lordship' and after applying to Monsieur de Laborie about that and other similar complaints he received an answer which he copies here [in French]; case of James Taylor, formerly a member of Council to be re-instated to his former position; case of Mr. Samuel Williams, also in the former Council, senior to Mr. James Campbell, who has applied for re-instatement; reports he has added to the Council: James Taylor, Michael Scott, Ninian Home, William Smith, and William Nicholls Esquirs; wants to give first available position to John Nelson; encloses memorial of John Reid, inhabitant of one of the Grenadines, and hopes he will obtain redress; two enclosures: printed 'A Proclamation. George the Third. . ' to subjects of Grenada and its Dependencies, proclaimed 10 January 1784; Memorial of John Reid, Carriacou planter, 17 January 1784, Reid refers to three 'negro' men who arrived on Isle du Large near Carriacou, who called themselves Charles, Cuffee and Watty, who according to Reid, pretended to 'belong' to a carpenter in Tobago named Stuart, but then acknowledged they had run away from 'their master' Mr. Woolward, of Island of Bequia, and their names were Mercury, Peter, and Plato, and before Reid could 'ascertain the truth' they escaped with Reid's boat with three of Reid's slaves, a man called Blain and two women called Phillis and Nelly, he arrived in Trinidad and found all six slaves in possession of Mr. Muchard, the Governor of Trinidad; Governor gave back the boat but told Reid he received no orders to deviate from the Old Laws of Spain for her Colonies, put the enslaved persons into the possession of Reinison [?] and Reid was informed they were sent to a plantation ''many Leagues distant' from the town. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 2, Folios 26 - 32. 12 Jan 1784. CO 101/25/7. Reports various things; both he and Admiral, according to intentions stated in letter, 30 December 1783, left St. Lucia on 1 January; detached the garrison for Dominica on same day, and left Major Chester of the 35th Regiment with orders to deliver up St. Lucia on 3rd and instantly proceed to St. Vincent; French Governors, reasons for not prepared to evacuate; refers to letter from the French Minister; French military works which are considerable and in general substantially constructed; writes 'Lieutenant Shipley, Commanding Engineer with a large detachment of the Carolina Negroes, is employed in repairing where they are decayed, particularly in the Barracks, for the comfortable reception of the Troops;' military staff and troops distribution. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 33 - 36. 24 Jan 1784. CO 101/25/8. Acknowledges letter with Mr. Burfoot's memorial enclosed and two Circulars; had paid attention to the original memorial in his letter of 12 January. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 37 - 38. 25 Jan 1784. CO 101/25/9. Draft; transmits copy of letter from Mr. Rose, one of the Secretaries of the Treasury, to Mr. Nepean, in which he mentions the intention of the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, to send to the West Indies, a quantity of provisions sufficient for consumption of 2000 men for three months; directed the same to be left at Barbadoes [Barbados]; is commanded by the King that Governor Mathew should take the provisions and properly distribute them in the several Islands. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 39 - 40. 14 Apr 1784. CO 101/25/10. Reports that since has been in possession of Grenada has been employed in re-establishing its former British Government; refers to military works, Major General St. Leger's claim to certain duties in St. Lucia; requisition of provisions for 2000 men; and Lieutenant Shipley, Chief Engineer returns to Europe due to an order from the Board of Ordnance; one enclosure [not in item]. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 41 - 43. 9 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/11. Acknowledges receipt of letter from Secretary of State's predecessor; shall transmit the Returns from the Custom House by the first opportunity every three months; encloses Address from the Council and Assembly to King; copies of four Acts of the Legislature of Grenada [not in item]; No. 1, The Dock Bill; No. 2, The Governor's Salary Bill, No. 3, An Act for the Quiet of Defendants, & c; No. 4, An Act for Supplying the Want of Fines and Recoveries, & c; Governor's speech to the Legislature, with addresses in return. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 3, Folios 44 - 54. 11 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/12. Acknowledges receipt of Governor Mathew's letters; reports on various subjects; congratulates Mathew on being appointed Governor of Grenada; forwards copy of the Report of the Law Officers of the Crown on the effect of sentences of French Courts in Grenada during the war. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 55 - 60. 6 May 1784. CO 101/25/13. Acknowledges assistance he has received from Colonel Cuyler at the 'Head of the Quarter-Master-Generals Department' from June 1782 to 24 March 1784.

Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 61 - 62. 15 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/14. Reference to purchase of house and 15 acres of land in Barbados; purchased at the time to accommodate troops expected from North America; wants to know where to deliver the papers; Rear Admiral Sir Richard Hughes, the Naval Commander in 'these seas' has accepted use of it for the 'present. ' Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 63 - 64. 27 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/15. Reference to previously forwarded answers to letters

from Secretary of State; duplicates will be forwarded; reply to Secretary of State Circular letters and despatch. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 65 - 66. 27 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/16. Submission of two copies of Acts passed by the Legislature of Grenada [not in item]; An Act for Establishing a Court of Error; An Act for Removing Doubts with Respect to the Laws. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 67 - 68. 27 Mar 1784. CO 101/25/17. Draft; presented four of Governor Mathew's letters to the King; two copies of Acts for establishing a Court of Error and for removing doubts with respect to the Laws have been transmitted; reference to title deeds of house and land in Barbados bought for accommodating North American troops; provisions for 2000 men for three months. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 69 - 70. 5 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/18. Acknowledges receipt of Secretary of State's despatch; transmits authenticated death and burial certificate of La Dame Rechou; fees of Custom House, represented by a Committee of Planters and Merchants to be exorbitant and unusual, is under strict scrutiny and forwards a reply of the office; claim of Count and Countess of Riquebourg on the property of Mr. and Mrs. Scott [reference to slaves]; laid before the Assembly the instruction from the king on subject of duty and it has been rejected, forwards answers and his message. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 5, Folios 71 - 93. 4 May 1784. CO 101/25/19. Draft; Claims of Madame Blang, whose father Le Sieur Blang Bernard Blang Londinière on his death in Grenada in April 1783 bequeathed her his property; wants Mathew to carry out an enquiry on whether the executors Les Sieurs Jean Baptiste Beyes and Paul Antonine Dufour are still inhabitants of Grenada. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 94 - 95. 8 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/20. Draft; reasons for King agreeing to continuance of the staff in the Leeward Islands, which he wrote about in letter of 19 March, cannot 'at present' operate; Mathew's pay and appointments of Commander in Chief of His Forces employed in the West Indies is to stop. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 96 - 97. 14 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/21. Draft; Acknowledges receipt of letters, which he has presented to the King; various subjects mentioned including case of claim of Count and Countess of Riquebourg; Custom House; Duty; extract of a letter from the Treasury in answer to a representation made by Governor Arde of Dominica relating to officers and men stationed [not in item]; resolutions of the Assembly of Saint Christopher [St. Kitts] respecting assistance to troops and repair of fortifications. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 98 - 100. 7 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/22. Transmits the list of shipping from the Naval Office of Grenada, entered inwards and cleared outwards for the quarter ending 31 March 1784 [not in item]; submits copies of two Acts passed by the Legislature of Grenada [not in item]; No. 1, An Act for Rendering the Process in the Court of Chancery Effectual in Certain Cases &c; No. l 2, An Act for Preventing the Statute of Limitation from Running in Certain Cases &c. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 6, Folios 101 - 102. 5 May 1784. CO 101/25/23. Acknowledges Secretary of State's letter; reports on various subjects including Colonel Lamont Commanding at St. Christopher [St. Kitts] whom Mathew directed to make an application to the Legislature there for some assistance to the troops and towards repairing the fortifications on Brimstone Hill; directed the Officer commanding at Barbados to apply to Governor Parry on the same subject, but who thought any application to the legislature would be ineffectual, therefore Mathew intends to pursue original plan of withdrawing the two companies now there, to Grenada; encloses the Monthly Return of His Majesty's Forces [word 'mislaid' possibly written by Mathew; not in item]. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 103 - 107. 5 May 1784. CO 101/25/24. Reports that the enclosed extract from the Minutes of the Court of Grand Sessions of Grenada, and the consequent petition of the Grand Jury, with the favourable representation from the Bench on behalf of convict Robert Marshall, who had been sentenced to death for murder of William Anderson, has influenced Mathew to delay the execution until King's wish is known; requests for Royal Clemency. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 7, Folios 108 - 113. 31 May 1784. CO 101/25/25. Transmits opinion of the Solicitor General [Mackenzie] on the papers submitted to him relating to the claim of the Count and Countess de Riquebourg. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 8, Folios 114 - 117. 31 May 1784. CO 101/25/26. Forwards copy of Governor Lincoln's letter to Mathew; letter reports that information had been given to Lincoln of 'an intention on the part of the Charaibs [Caribs] to commence hostilities upon St. Vincent'; Lincoln writes that the 'Charaibs are from seven to twelve hundred strong besides a vast number of fugitive Slaves supposed to be in league with them'; after receiving the letter Mathew applied to Captain Rule, commander of the only king's vessel in the bay, who permitted him to embark the same evening; the Light Company of the 2nd Battalion of the 60th, a detachment of 30 'Carolina Negros' [Black Corps] with all the spare small arms in store, on board HMS Experiment ; reports other military decisions. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 118 - 122. 31 May 1784. CO 101/25/27. Draft; Acknowledges receipt of letters; King has extended 'His Royal Mercy' to Robert Marshall, under sentence of death for murder; reference to case of claim of Count and Countess de Riquebourg; signifies the King's approval of his conduct to the 'relief' of St. Vincent; reference to particular authority of Governor Mathew over Governor Lincoln due to Mathew's command of the King's Forces. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 123 - 126. 2 Aug 1784. CO 101/25/28. Submits copies of a letter from Major Chester, Commanding Officer of His Majesty's Troops at St. Vincent, and of his answers, with his letter to Governor Lincoln on the subject; subject of Lincoln assuming the right to give general orders; various related enclosures; reference by Chester to 'American Negroes' and from Arthur Leith to 'Black Pioneers' ['Black Carolina Corps']. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 127 - 152. 20 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/29. Reference to regulations for carrying on the trade between His Majesty's Dominions and the United States of America; state of Messrs Taylor and William's situation in the Council regarding rank; report of the Law Officers of the Crown; defences of the island; duty; Governor Lincoln; 'Charaibs' [Caribs]; Chaplain for the Garrison; reply to Secretary of State Circular letters and despatch; two enclosures; letters from Lincoln and Chester referring to 'Charaibs'. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 9, Folios 153 - 159. 22 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/30. Reports on situation of islands and ideas about the best defence of them; will collect as soon as possible reports from the Engineers of their different states of defence; discussion of various regiments. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 160 - 162. 22 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/31. Forwards memorial of facts relating to the office of Attorney General. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada No. 10, Folios 163 - 166. 23 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/32. Submission of copies of three Acts passed by the Legislature of Grenada [not in item]; No. 1, An Act for Re-establishing a Court of Common Pleas and a Court of Complaints &c; No. 2, An Act for Re-establishing a Court of Kings Bench and Grand Sessions &c; No. 3, An Act for Removing Doubts and Difficulties which May Arise from the Late Changes of Laws &c. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 167 - 168. 28 Jun 1784. CO 101/25/33. Defence of the islands; believes there should be a Commander in Chief or Officer Commanding whose power must necessarily extend throughout the whole Windward and Leeward Charibbee [Caribbean] Islands; reference to the evacuation of St. Lucia. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 169 - 174.

14 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/34. Case of Rorey, an enslaved African at the Observatory Plantation charged with murder of Peter, an enslaved African at Belmont Plantation; Transmits letter from Mr. Ninian Home, a member of Council, and Mr. John Castles, a Member of the Assembly of Grenada, before whom, as Justices of the Peace, Mathew writes a 'Negro belonging to Colonel Harry Gordon' was found guilty of murder; they recommend him as an object of mercy; recommended by 'several other very respectable Gentlemen in the

Island'; Mathew recommends mercy due to 'good character he is represented to have always maintained; and having frequently rendered Services to the Colony, by his Activity & Vigilance in suppressing the Runaway Negroes. ' Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 175 - 178. 24 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/35. Acknowledges Secretary of State's letters; duplicates have already been doubly answered; reply to Circulars which contained King's speech on the meeting of the new Parliament, information on signing the Definitive Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and the United Provinces, with a copy of a letter from Mr. Rose to Mr. Nepean, and copies of two minutes of the Treasury Board; provisions mentioned in Secretary of State's letter of 5 June have arrived and are being distributed in the islands; encloses extracts from letters in answer to his enquiries on subject of the Note (copies) from the Comte d'Adhemar [Le Comte d'adhimar], contained in the despatch of 8 June, from Mr. Lucas, Chief Judge, and Mr. Sympson, Master in Chancery, of Grenada; reference to application from Mathew to the Assembly for 120 'Negroes' to clear the ground near the military station; enclosures refer to plantations and slaves; coffee plantation at Petit-Havre owned by the late Mr. Blanc Londier who borrowed money from the House of Bosanquet & Fatio in London; cotton estates at Carriacou and at Grenada leased by Mr. Dufour; petition from inhabitants of St. Patricks asking for a Royal Pardon for Rory [Rorey], enslaved African charged with murder, signed by John MacDonald, Colin Campbell, J. Mitchell, Joshua Lockey, Robert Penny. See CO101/25/34. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 179 - 188. 24 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/36. Transmits lists from the Naval Office of Grenada, of shipping entered inwards and cleared outwards, for the quarter ending 30 June 1784 [not in item]. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 189 - 190. 25 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/37. Transmits June and July Returns of the Regiments serving in Islands, lately under his command; dissolution of the staff; requests instructions for future subsistence of the Black Corps, divided in the different islands, who have no agent in Europe. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 191 - 192. 28 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/38. Transmits a petition sent to Mathew from the principal merchants and traders of the town of Saint George with Mathew's reply; reference to laws of trade and navigation, Spanish colonies, slave trade on coast of Africa, signed by 29 people including Edward Hind, James Wilkinson, Francis Horsley, Robert Otway, Thomas Campbell, Fergus Paterson, and Robert Ker. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 191 - 198. 28 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/39. Transmits copy of a memorial from planters in parish of St. Patrick asking for a Royal Pardon for Rorey, an enslaved African convicted of murder; memorial states that Rorey had helped apprehend 'fugitive negro's' and suppressed 'the formidable gangs that inhabit the mountains of this Island' and that 'he may. . be of still further Service to this Island', signed by John MacDonald, Colin Campbell, L. Mitchell, Joshua Lockey, Rob Penny. See CO101/25/34 and CO101/25/35. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 199 - 202. 30 Jul 1784. CO 101/25/40. Draft; Acknowledges receipt of letters from Governor Mathew and Captain Layard; reference to various subjects including acts of the legislature, petition from the principal merchants and traders of the town of St. George regarding trade and navigation laws, Mathew's suggestion of a commander in charge of military forces upon several islands in the West Indies, and 'negroe labour' and public works. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 203 - 208. 5 Oct 1784. CO 101/25/41. Informs Secretary of State of death of Mr. Mills, the Collector of the Customs; suggests his son for vacant post. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 209 - 210. 15 Aug 1784. CO 101/25/42. Acknowledges receipt of letters; has answered duplicates already; reference to the regulations for carrying trade between HM colonies and the United States of America; HM Order in Council directing a new form for Mediterranean passes; allowance of rations to subaltern officers and men stationed in Grenada; duty; assistance to troops stationed on Saint Christopher [St. Kitts]. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 211 - 212. 22 Aug 1784. CO 101/25/43. Submission of copies of three Acts passed by the Legislature of Grenada [not in item]; No. 1, An Act for Raising Taxes to Pay the Public Debts; No. 2, An Act for the Better Regulation of Foreign Vessels; No. 3, An Act for the Better Security of Mortgages. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 213 - 214. 22 Aug 1784. CO 101/25/44. Draft; Reference to the claim of the Count and Countess de Riquebourg; copy of letter from Le Vicomte de Grenier [in French] and copy of note from Monsieur Bartholemy [in French]. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 215 - 220. 5 Nov 1784. CO 101/25/45. Draft; Acknowledges receipt of letters; reference to acts of legislature, loss of the Corporal and three Private Soldiers of the 60th Regiment who were killed by what Sydney describes as 'the unfortunate accident' which occurred at Fort Frederick during 'the late storm'; public spirit of the legislature; defence; military establishment; and Charibbs [Caribs]. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 221 - 223. 5 Nov 1784. CO 101/25/46. Reply to Secretary of State Circular letter which enclosed a printed copy of the Definitive Treaty of Peace and duplicates of letters. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 224 - 225. 13 Sep 1784. CO 101/25/47. Reference to various subjects; Royal Pardon was immediately made known to prisoner Robert Marshall, under sentence of death; case of Count and Countess of Riquebourg; assistance to St. Vincent; military establishment; application to the Legislature 'for the assistance of 150 negroes for the Repairs and Additions to their fortifications' and legislature voted double the number of people; 'expense of victualling the negroes'; violent storm on 2 September. Edward Mathew, Governor of Grenada, Grenada, Folios 226 - 228. 13 Sep 1784. CO 101/25/48. Draft; subsistence of troops serving in the Leeward Islands; the Black Corps. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 229 - 230. 3 Dec 1784. CO 101/25/49. Draft; reports has laid before the King application made to him by Mathew's agent, Mr. Spooner, for obtaining King's permission for Mathew's return to England for health reasons; granted six months leave of absence. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 231 - 232. 3 Dec 1784. CO 101/25/50. Draft; reference to memorial from M. de Barthélemy concerning purchase of an estate at Grenada in 1765 by Messrs Townson and Taylor, which requests to know if Mr. Taylor is still alive and if so whether he resides at estate and if the heirs of the late Madame Delesnable Desahurte who sold the estate will be paid; Sydney requests an enquiry. Thomas Townshend, Lord Sydney, Secretary of State, Whitehall, Folios 233 - 234. 15 Dec 1784.

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