UNIVERSITY [The "RECORDS OF COUNCIL" which follow from June 21, 1722, to November 2, 1728, were copied from a MS. volume in the Secretary's office, labelled " Commissioners, &c., Council & Assembly Records, 1680 to 1740, Imperfect." The reader will perceive that these "Records" are exceedingly meagre and imperfect; but they are the only "Records of Council" that can be found relating to the above-named period, or until April 5, 1742. Probably a portion of the Records of Council were destroyed by a fire which consumed Secretary Waldron's house in 1736.* But though thus imperfect, it will be found that these Records contain some matters of great historical interest and value. Pages in the margin correspond with those in the MS. record.] [P. I.] Pro. N. Hamp'. Present, At a Council, June 21, 1722. Mark Hunking, Thos. Packer, Arch. McPheadris (1). *See notice of the fire under date May 21st, 1736, in the "Journal of the House." (1) Archibald MacPheadris, Esq., is among the tax-payers in Portsmouth in 1727. He built a splendid mansion at Portsmouth in 1718-1723, which cost £6000, and is still standing, at the corner of Daniel and Chapel streets, now known as the Warner house. This house is provided with a lightning-rod which was put up in 1762, under the personal inspection of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and was probably the first put up in New Hampshire. Captain MacPheadris was a native of Scotland, an opulent merchant, and was a leading projector of the first iron-works in America. He was at the head of a small company which commenced the manufacture of iron from the ore at Lamprey river. In 1719 the General Court of Massachusetts granted to the Company a slip of land two miles wide, at the head of Dover line. This land was to furnish His Hon laid before the Board a Charter for Lond" Derry, signed by the Gov', which was read and the question put whether the Clerk should countersign and seal it, wch was resolved in the affirmative. The Cler. presented ye report of Col° Davis & Capt. Gerrish abt ye road to Winnipishoky pond, to ye board, which his Hon' took to himself. His Hon' the Lt. Gov' laid before the Board a letter from Mr. Secretary Williard, dated June 20, 1722, directing him in the Govers name to cause 30 men to be imprest in this Prov: to joyn ye Eastern recruits; and another [P. 2.] letter from his Excellency, dated the next day to Inforce it; and he likewise informed the Board he had ordered the impressing ye 30 men according to sd order, whom he expected to appear forthwith; and thereupon proposed that the Treasurer should subsist them for the present, & that ye clerk forthwth issue out summonses to the several members of the House of represents to meet in Gen' Assem. to morrow at 3 o'clock P. M., which was resolved, nemine contradicente. Whereas his Hon' the Lieut. Gov' and this Board are credibly informed that there is now and hath been for 48 houres last past a pirate sloop lying near the Isles of Shoales to the Eastward fuel for the iron-works, and a location for settling the foreign operatives. Captain MacPheadris married Miss Sarah Wentworth, one of the sixteen children of Lt. Governor John Wentworth. They had but one daughter, Mary, who married, in 1754, Hon. Jonathan Warner. Capt. MacPheadris died in 1729. His widow married Hon. George Jaffrey.-See Rambles about Portsmouth, p. 138. thereof, which may wth the greatest probability destroy all vessels as well provision vessels as the fishery and all others upon the coast, if proper measures do not prevent: It is therefore in Council concluded and resolved, That a suitable vessel be forthwth provided for pursuing the said pirate, and for the encouragm of all such as shall enlist themselves on board the said vessel to pursue the s pirate, each person so enlisting [P. 3.] shall receive in hand 20s. cash for 4 days, and for any longer time they shall be absent, further reasonable wages, and that they shall be entituled to the King's bounty, which is £10 pr head, and the vessel wth all apparell, & wth all cargoe in case of caption. The Lt. Gov' laid a complaint wch he had received from J. Odiorne, Esq., agst Col. Walton: Ordered to be heard the first Tuesday in Augt next. Ordered, The Lt. Govt be reimburst out of ye treasury £7: 15: 6, for his expenses in settling Garrisons in ye frontiers. Ordered, Mr. Phipps & Mr. Jaffrey agree upon the bill of cost of Amory vs. Winkley. Ordered, That the postmaster be paid 3lbs out of the treasury for publick letters to and from this Govermt to this day. Pro. N. Hamp❜. At a Council, July 20th, 1722. Present: Lt. Govr Sam' Penhallow The Lt. Gov' laid before the Board an Geo. Jaffrey Thos Packer. acct of -Robinson, Ordered that a warrt be am to 30 lbs. 17: 2, for work at ye Fort. issued out to the Treasurer for 20 lbs. payable to s Robinson in part, and that the acct. be laid before the [P. 4.] Gen1 Assem. at their next sessions allowance. Resolved, That whereas there was 2 acts entered by Amory & Winkley at ye Court of Appeals, at ye last term, and Judgm' entered onely on one, that yo bill of cost to be taxed now be onely the costs in that case. Pro. N. Hamp❜. At a Council at Portsmo Jan3 9th, 1722–3. Mark Hunking, Esq. Present: Geo. Jaffrey Rich Wibird, Esqs. His Hon the Lieut. Gov' laid before the Board a letter directed to him, bearing date ye 27th Xbr, 1722, from his Excellency Gov Shute, importing that there is a great deal of difficulty and delay in the affairs of ye Govermt for want of a sufficient number to fill up his Majestys Council, and therefore that he had recommended Jno. Frost, (1) Esq., for one, till such time as they are filled up from home; which letter being read, the said Jno. Frost, Esq., was sent for to the Board, to whom was administered ye oaths, instead of ye oaths of allegiance and supremacy, and the abjuration oath, and yo oath of a Councillor, and ya by yo [P. 5.] advice of ye Council took his place at ye Board accordingly. In Council, May 21st, 1723. Voted, That Mark Hunking and Rich Wibird be of the Committee from the Board to joyn wth so many of the House of Representatives to examine the claims and Demands and audit the accounts of all persons to be laid before the Gen' Assem. at this Sessions, and that they make their report as soon as conveniency will permit. Rich Waldron, Cler. Con. (1) Hon. JOHN FROST was of New Castle. He was a native of Kittery, Me., born in 1681, and was the son of Major Charles Frost, who was slain by the Indians on the Sabbath, July 4th, 1697, as he was returning from meeting, and grandson of Nicholas Frost, an emigrant from England, born at Tiverton, about the year 1589, and settled at Sturgeon Creek, in Eliot, 1636, where he died in 1663. This grandson, Hon. John Frost, in 1702 married Mary Pepperill, sister of Sir William, the baronet. Established at New Castle, he soon rose to eminence. He was a member of his Majesty's Council, at one time commanded a British ship-of-war, afterwards pursued the profession of a merchant, and was much distinguished and highly useful in civil life. His place of residence was on an eminence, westerly of the Prescott mansion (since the Almshouse), commanding a view of the spacious harbor, the river and its tablelands, with the lofty Agamenticus in the distance. His family was numerous and highly respectable. He died February 25, 1732, aged fifty-one years.-See Rambles about Portsmouth, p. 86, and Farm. Belk., p. 411. Rob Armstrong, Esq., presented a Memorial to ye Board und his hand, setting forth that he had been falsely represented to the Honble ye Lords of ye Treasury, and therefore praying that his character might be cerifyed by the Honourable Board, &c., as pr ye Memorial at large, on file. Whereupon, It was resolved to give the s Armstrong ye following certificate (namely), That during our acquaintance wth the sd Rob Armstrong, Esq., ye Memorialist, and his abode in this Province, he has behaved himself as a loyal subject and faithfull officer, and in no way inclined to yo Pretender, nor any of his adherents, by anything that has ever occurred to our knowledge. By order of y Lt. Gov' & Coun. R. Waldron, Cler. Con. Col. Hunking presented to the Board a return of Stratham south-east bounds, signed by himself and James Jaffry; the same was ordered to be filed wth ye Report of yo committee appointed to settle all ye town bounds in ye Province. [P. 7.] Pro. N. Hamp'. At a Council at Portsmouth, July 224, 1723. Mark Hunking, Esqs. Shad. Walton, Rich Wibird, The Committee appointed by ye Gen1 Assem. the first day of June, 1723, to survey Lampry River and report ye most commo (1) THOMAS PACKER, whose name appears here for the last time as a member of his Majesty's Council, was a physician - "One of the earliest surgeons of Portsmouth who had been regularly bred to the profession. He was born in London. He came to this country a young man, resided a short time in Salem, and then removed to Portsmouth. There being no physician here at that time of much repute, he united the practice of physic with that of surgery, and attained some eminence in both. He held the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Lieutenant-Colonel in the Militia, and Judge of Probate for the Province, for many years. As Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, he was superseded in 1695; and from the other two offices, was dismissed by the President and Council the beginning of the year 1697. He was appointed Councillor in 1719, which office he held till his death." [Farmer puts his death in 1723.-ED.] Adams' Ann. of Ports., p. 154. |