Petition of the Council and House of Representatives of West Jersey to the King, asking for the confirmation of Andrew Hamilton as Governor. [From P. R. O. B. T., Proprieties. Vol. 6, G. 29 ] TO OUR MOST GRACIOUS SOVEREIGNE WILLIAM THE THIRD KING OF ENGLAND &C. THE HUMBLE PETITION of the Provincial Councill and House of Representatives of the Province of West New Jersey in General Assembly Mett at Burlington the 12th day of May Anno Dni 1701. Most humbly Sheweth That the Preservation of the Kings Peace, among his Subjects, being very dear to Him. We though a small part of that Great Body, ffly to him for the Influences of his Power, and Goodnesse to so good an End. In order to it do therefore most humbly Represent. That the Governm of this Province by the evil Endeavours of one Joshua Barkstead and others now or lately in England is much disordered by their Letters to some Inhabitants disaffected, who industriously Publish the same. Which We are assured will together with this be produced in Evidence that Colonel Andrew Hamilton our present worthy Governo! whom the Proprietors in England, Petitioned the King to approve, was rejected by the Court, and not in the least owned as such; But quite contrary wondering that he dare presume to take upon him the Governm declaring that all Acts of Governm' by him done, or any under him are null and void. And that Brother (meaning Jeremiah Basse) would suddenly be over with them as Governo' for the King, or Surveyo' General, of the Customs in America. And tho' the long Experience, the Inhabitants have had of the Justice and Veracity of Col! Hamilton, ought to have influenced a Beliefe of what he related to Us, upon his first comeing over, that the King had been Petitioned to approve the Proprietors choice of him for Governo! And that altho' the Council of Trade to whom the Petition was referred did not see fit to advise the King to grant the Approbation Petitioned for, Yet that at the same time, by the mouth of S Philip Meadows. They were pleased to signifie to him That if he governed himself, according to ye Laws of England. The Proprietors would find wherewithall to Justifie themselves in Commissionating him, and him for acting under it, till the King's pleasure should be further known therein. Yet no Instrument being sent over to Command in the mean time, the obedience of the Inhabitants under the present Administrac'on. The giddy & factious part of the People lay hold on the above Letters to justifie their breaking in pieces the whole fframe of Governm and running yo' people into disorder & confusion And as it is impossible for people to live happy without Governm! So those moderate and necessary Taxes laid on the Province for Supporting thereof, weh in former times have been alwaies duely complyed with, are now refused to be paid by that part of the People, who impudently affirm. That ye Province was without Law or Legal Authority, And have threatened high against those Officers that would attempt to Levy it The Governour and Justices of the peace Knowing it their absolute duty to preserve as much as in them lies the Order of Governm And haveing in order to it, took up some of these seditions and disorderly persons, who refused to find security for the good Behaviour. Men who industriously endeavoured the dissolution of the whole fframe of Governm giveing it out That for want of the Approbation the Governo! here was no Governo and the Province without Law tho' they very well knew, what stepp had been made to obtain ye Approbation. And that the not obtaining it was by no Neglect of the Proprietors but from a Reason of State And as an Instance that those Letters and Persons debauch'd the people into a beliefe that no Act of Governm' could be done under the present Administrac'on, About three or four score of the disorderly people came to ye Town of Burlington in the Province afores the Eighteenth day of March last past in a Tumultuary and Riotous manner (takeing advantage of the Governo being unprovided to Suppresse them because many of the Inhabitants of that Towne are such whose Religious Perswasions will not suffer them to bear Armes) and forcibly broke open the Prison and rescued two Persons who were under confinem' for refuseing to find Sureties for their good behaviour And were known to be very active in rayseing and continueing our Troubles in the Governm' And since such enormities may grow to be of dangerous consequence if not timely p'vented. We therefore Humbly pray, That the King will be graciously pleased to rebuke the Insolency of those Ill men, and Command their Obedience to the p'sent Governm' that We may be quiet and safe as all Loyall and Peaceable Subjects desire to be till his Royal pleasure be further knowne concerning us. And (if it may be with decency exprest) We begg leave to say That nothing can lay the good People of this Province under a greater and more lasting Obligation then to remaine under the Care and Administrac'on of our p'sent worthy Governour of whom We have had long Experience, and have no cause to doubt but he will al waies acquit himself with Honour to his Prince and Justice Prudence & Integrity to y People, Which neverthelesse is most humbly Submitted And Yo Petitioners (as in duty bound) shall ever pray & William Biddle Edward Hunloke, P of the Provincial Tho: Gardiner George Deacon John Thompson Jon Beere And: Robeson Council Sam" Jenings, Speaker Mahlon Stacy ffrancis Davenport Restore Lippingcot John Scott Tho: Wilkins John Hand John Rambo Thomas Thackera John Kay Archaball Miggle Joh Woodrooffe John Reading: Cler: Address of the Inhabitants of West Jersey, asking to be taken under the King's immediate government From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 6, G 23.] To his Sacred Majty Our Soveraign W the Third by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defend" of the Faith &ca The humble addresse of your Maj most humble & Loyall Subjects Freeholders and Inhabitants in the Colony of West New Jersey in America. In all humility sheweth. That whereas your Majtys most humble & Loyall subjects have for many years inhabited in your Majty s Colony of West Jersey where with great hazards, Toyls & fatigues, We have been endeavouring ye maintenance of Our selves and poor Families, and according to our bounden Duty at all times (since your gracious Matys accession to the Crowne) have wth all cheerfulness manifested Our Loyalty to y! Majty tho' under a Proprietory Governo! where We have long been harassed by the arbitrary proceedings of those who have held the Reins of Government over us, and are now grown so headstrong and insolent, y' they would submit to no authority unless they could sway them to their own particular interests as hath been plainly evidenced by their behaviors under y late administration of Jeremy Basse Esq in the Government of said Colony wherein it might be thought incredible (especially for a People who have profest themselves innocents) to relate not only their continued Affronts & insufferable provocations, both towards himself, and those who by Commission under him endeavoured the conservation of the Peace, according to your Maj Laws & their incumbent Duty; yet such were ye inveteracy of that sort of people, that notwithstanding all the Candid endeavours of said Coll Basse in his administration of the Government here, when the Magistrates who were by him commissionated appeared at the Court house to hold a Court for the keeping your Majtys Peace, they were not only kept out of the said Court house, but also with violence sett upon, assaulted, beat and some wounded, by a riotous number of Quakers, and others their adherents (as by a Copy of the Record thereof made and in the hands of the said late Gov! appears) upon complaint whereof the said late Gov' Bass went in person to the Place & in opposition to him the Quakers with many others by their means, with Cololers Drums & Arms, were gathered together, who with high menaces declared their cruell intentions if he came there, whereupon the said late Governor having information thereof, called |