said Andrew Hamilton and divers proprietors and Inhabitants of the Countrey, should he be Constituted Govern! those persons who have been Injured by him, cannot hope to obtain Justice, Since he then will become both Judge and Party 8th And whereas some persons of the West Jersey Society have taken upon them to Assert, that it is the desire of the greater part of the Proprietors and Inhabitants of both Jerseys that the said Andrew Hamilton may be Constituted Govern! and that it was upon that Condition they delivered up the Surrender of the Governm of the said Provinces, Wee humbly crave leave to informe Your Lordships that the said assertion is Utterly untrue, for that all the persons of ye society who so Strenuously Sollicitt for Andrew Hamilton, and Signed the Petition on his behalfe, make not altogether above one fifth of the Propriets of West Jersey nor one Sixth part of East Jersey, among the whole West Jersie Society. 9th Yet nevertheless and contrary to their promise by their late Agent M Morris, have Clandestinely promoted the said Petic'on, which most of the Propriet's both of East and West Jersey were Wholy Ignorant off; and those few who are Since informed being Surpris'd, take this opportunity to Dissowne: Forasmuch as their Chief motives of Signing the Surrender of the Governmt with them was, that the Crowne might nominate a Govern! unconcern'd in any party or ffaction whereby they might be freed from the Oppressive Governm of the said Andrew Hamilton and his Faction. They therefore hope and pray that her Mate will Graciously please to nominate some person to be Gover! over ye said Province of New Jersey, wholly unconcern'd in the Factions, which have divided the Inhabitants of those parts, According to the humble Opinion of your Honors, contained in the Report made to his late Matie of Happy Memory. [May 28th 1702] Secretary Popple to Sir Thomas Lane, transmitting copies of papers received from Wm. Dockwra and Peter Sonmans, relating to Andrew Hamilton. [From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, No. 23 Ent. Rook D., p. 10.] Lre to S Tho: Lane with some papers of Mr Dockwra's agt Coll: Hamiltor. Sir. To S Tho: Lane Knt & Alderman The Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations have ordered me to send you the inclosed Copies of Papers laid before them this day by M: Dockwra and M: Sonmans: Viz! Their Desire to correct an Error in their Petition to her Majesty, So that it may be exprest, "Not "that they are ready to Surrender their right to the" Government of New Jersey, but That they have already surrendred the same; Their objections against Coll: Andrew Hamilton, And a Copy of the Representation of this Board of the 6th of January last relating to the said Surrender. I am also to acquaint you, that, upon their desire, Summons have been given them for Coll: Quary, M1 Randolph, Mr Bass and M Joshua Barkstead, to attend this Board on Wednesday next at ten a Clock in the Morning (the time already appointed for hearing what may be offered relating to Coll: Hamilton's being appointed Governour of New Jersey) And that if you desire Summons for any other persons to attend at the same time, they shall be sent to you. I am Whitehal May 28th 1702. &c. W POPPLE The Lords of Trade to the Secretary of State, enclosing a draft of a letter for the signature of the Queen, conferring temporary authority in New Jersey on Lewis Morris. [From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 28, p. 13.] To the Rt Hon ble the Earle of Nottingham Principal Secretary of State. My Lords. Inclosed is a Form of a Letter in behalf of Coll: Morris, which may not be improper for her Majesty to sign, if her Majesty shall so think fit. We are & Whitehall June 1st 1702. Rob Cecil W Blathwayt John Pollexfen ANNE by the Grace of God Queen of England, Scotand, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith & To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting. WHEREAS Our Trusty and Wellbeloved Colonel Lewis Morris is returning to our Colony of New Jersey in America, after having given Us signal Testimonies of his Loyalty and good Affection to our Service; We do hereby Will and require all our Loving Subjects within the said Colony to have a due regard to the said Colonel Morris in his Endeavours to preserve the peace and Quiet of that our Colony upon the Surrender that has been made by the Proprietors of their Right or pretended Right unto us of Government, untill We shall by our Royal Commission under the Great Seal of our Kingdom of England give our farther Orders therein. For which this shall be in the meantime to all whom it may concern, a Sufficient Warrant and Direction. Given at our Court at St James's the [ ] day of [ 1702, In the first Year of our Reign By her Majesty's Command Reply of several of the Proprietors of New Jersey, to the complaints against Andrew Hamilton, by William Dockwra & Peter Sonmans. [From P. R. O. B. T. Proprieties, Vol. 6, I 44.] TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS COMMISSIONERS FOR FORREIGN TRADE AND PLANTATIONS A Reply of the Proprietors of East and West New Jersey, to the Articles Exhibited by William Dockwra & Peter Sonmans against Collonel Andrew Hamilton. To the first Article we answer 1° Coll: Hamilton was Governour of these two Provinces for the Space of nine or Ten years to the good Liking of Prop'rs and people, and all the neighbouring Colonies, without any Complaint against him, neither would he have been Superseded, but from a Belief of his Incapacity to Serve by the Late Act of the 7th & 8th of King William, and he is so farr from being an Incendiary, that his Mildness and Moderation was the only motive for W Pen to Intrust him with the Government, and those in the abovesaid Province who have (by the Influence of Jer: Basse & W Dockwra, appeared of Late against him, are now So well Satisfied of his moderation and good Conduct, that they have declared their readiness to Submitt to him, if he is Cloathed with a Commission from the Crown To the Second Article 2o We know of no Arbitrary or Illegal proceedings Coll: Hamilton hath been Guilty of, unless they call them Such as were acted in Opposition to the Common Disturbers of the peace of the Government Stirred up by the Influence of M: Dockwra and his party, for which he hath often hazarded his Life to preserve the publick peace and quiet of the Provinces. To the Third Article 3o We are well Informed that in all the time of Coll: Hamiltons Government before he was Superseded by a Commission given to Jer: Basse, not one person in all those Northern Colonies was accused of Pyracy, and Since his Last going over, he hath been Eminent in Discovery & bringing Pyrates to Justice, particularly appeared at a County Court at Midleton in East Jersey upon the Tryall of one, who was by a factious Crew rescued from the Barr, as appeares by Certificates under the provinciall Seall, Lodged by Lewis Morris Esquire before your Lordships. To the fourth Article 4o We have received many Letters from the Assemblies of Both Provinces with advice of what past there, but never any accusation of that kind and we Conceive the accusation is altogether groundless, Since an affair of that nature could not pass without our having notice of it, and the Gen'll Assembly (who being the givers of the mercy, [money?] are the proper Inspectors into its application) have been So far from taxing him with Such Crime, that at Severall Sessions they have given him Gratuitys for his Publick Service and prudent administration, To the fifth Article 5o We have heard that one Randolph (a noted Enemy to Coll: Hamilton did Some time agoe Exhibit to the Right Honorable the House of Lords a Complaint and accusation against the Said Colonel and others about Illegal Trade, and we heard he was So far from making good any Such accusation, that it was Thrown out as Groundless, which we believe to have come under the Notice of this Hono'ble Board, and his now accusers were So farr from accusing him whilst he was here, that they Joyned with us in Application to your Lordships, for his approbation To the Sixth Article 6° We must Referre our Selves to this Honble Board, |