Grant of the Government of West Jersey', from Daniel Coxe to the West Jersey Society.

[From West Jersey Records in Secretary of State's office at Trenton, Liber B, page 298.]

Societies' Grant from Daniel Coxe Esquire of the Government: of West New Jersey and Territories Thereof.

THIS INDENTURE made the ffourth day of March in the ffourth yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady William & Mary by the grace of God of England Scotland ffrance & Ireland King & Queene

1 THIS GRANT Seems to have effectually settled the question of the right of Government, which for several years had disturbed the Provinces; the New Jersey Society, thereafter, exercising it as well as the right of Proprietors of the land. The nature of the preceding difficulties will be seen from the following:

Among other "Resolves of the Freeholders of this Province in free Assemby met the 14th Day of the 3d Month, 1683, at an open and free conference" in reference to several Queries, appears the following:

"1. Querie. Whether the purchase at first made was of Land and Government together or not?

"Resolve to which Quierie, It is the Resolve of the Assembly (together with the Governor) with a (Nemine Contradicente) that the Land and Government of West New Jersey were purchased together."****

"6. Querie. Whether an Instrument shall be drawn up, and sent by order of this Assembly to some trusty Friends in London, for Edward Billinge to sign and Seal, whereby to confirm his first Bargain and Sale he made to the Freeholders of this Province, of Land and Government together, with a Letter of Instruction to those Friends to transact the same Affair, or not?

"Resolve. The Assembly pass it in General as their Resolve in the affirmative (with a Nemine Contradicente.)” **** [Whereupon fourteen prominent individuals in the province were elected to write the "letter of Instruction" to eight Friends designated by name.]

"8. Querie. Whether the expedient proposed by Governor Penn be satisfactory, to wit, that if the people chuse Samuel Jennings, Governor [he had been appointed Deputy Governor by Edward Byllyng in 1681] and if he promise to execute the Place with Fidelity and Diligence according to the Laws, Concessions, and Constitutions of this Province to the best of his skill, it be security sufficient to the people or not?

"Resolve to which Query the Assembly pass'd their Resolve in the affirmative (with a Nemine Contradicente) save only one member was dubious therein."* * * * "Samuel Jenings, is by the true Election and Vote of the Assembly chosen Governor of this Province."****

"The Engagement and Promise of Samuel Jenings to the General Assembly, &c., upon his Election as Governor of this Province as followeth, (viz.)

"I, Samuel Jenings, being duly elected Governor of the Province of West-Jersey, by the General free Assembly thereof sitting at Burlington, the 11th Day of the third Month in the year 1683, do freely and faithfully Promise (according to the

defend's of the ffaith &c And in the yeare of our Lord Christ one Thousand Six hundred nynety & one' BETWEENE Daniel Coxe of London Esquire Governo' & Chiefe Proprietor of the Province of West New Jersey and other adjacent Lands & Territories thereunto annexed in America of the one part and St Thomas Lane of London K, Michael Watts of London Merchant Edmond Harrison of London Merchant Thomas Skinner of Derolisk in the County of Dorsett Esq' James St Johns of London Goldsmith Nicholas Hayward of London Gen' Mordecai Abbott of London Gent Nicholas Battersley of London Merchant Robert Curtis of London Gen' John Jurin of London M'chant Richard Bromhall of London Gen' Robert Michel of London Merchant Charles Michel of London M'chant James Boddington Cittizen & Clothworker of London John Gunston of London M'chant Arthur Shallet of London M'chant John Lamb of London M'chant William Wightman of London Gen' Joseph Brooksbank Cittizen & Haberdasher of London William Thompson of London Merchant Henry Harrington of London Merchant John Love of London M'chant Thomas Phipps of London Linnendrap Isaac Cocks of Lon don M'chant Taylor John Sweetable of Lombard Street

best of my Ability) to act in that Capacity, according to the Laws, Concessions and Constitutions as they are now established in the said Province. SAMUEL JENNINGS, Governor.

"BE IT HEREBY ENACTED and Resolved by the Proprietors and Freeholders within the Province of West Jersey in free Assembly met, that the Matter relating their Demand and Vindication of their right to the Government against Edward Billing's pretence to the same, shall be proceeded in; and first that a Demand to Edward Billings for his confirmation of what he hath sold, shall first be made. In Pursuance whereof the Assembly unanimously nominate, elect and chuse Governor Samuel Jenings and Thomas Budd to negotiate the said affair in England, and commissionate and Impower them for the Transacting the same."

[Jennings and Budd proceeded to England (Thomas Olive having been appointed by Jennings Deputy Governor in his place) but what was the result of their negotiation does not appear. In 1685 Byllynge commissioned John Skeene as Deputy Governor, and the Assembly "reserving their just Rights and Privileges" acknowledged his authority]. Grants and Concessions, pp. 468–472 485, 489, 502.

1 1691-2.

Goldsmith Thomas Bromfeild of London Gent John Nortonof London Merchant Robert Hackshaw of London Merchant John Bridges of London Merchant Joseph Paice of London Merchant Edward Richier of London Mercer William Dunch of Lincolns Inne in the County of Midde Esq' Edward Habbersfeild of the Middle Temple London Gent John Alberson of London Merchant Edward West of London Gentleman Edward Paunecfort of London Gent Obadiah Burnett of London Merchant ffrancis Michel of London Cittizen & Mercer Benjamin Steele of London Merchant John Slaney of London Merchant Nehemiah Erwing of London Gent John Wilcocks of London Merchant Taylor Richard Mayo of London Gent Jonathan Netheway Cittizen & Drap of London William Brooks of London Gent Tracy Pauncefort of London Gent Joseph Allen of London Gent and Richard Greenaway Cittizen & Clothworker of London of the other part WHEREAS James Duke of Yorke (afterwards King James the second) over England Scotland ffrance & Ireland Defend' of the ffaith &c by his indenture bearing date on or about the sixth day of August in the yeare of our Lord one Thousand Six hundred & Eighty for the better enableing Edward Bylling then of the City of Westminster Gent since deced his Heires & assignes to improve & plant that Tract of Land then & now called West New Jersey in America & its rights members & appurtenances with People & to exercise all necessary Government there did give grant assigne & Transferre unto the said Edward Bylling his Heires & assignes all & every the same powers authorities jurisdictions Governm's & other matters & things whatsoever within or relating to West New Jersey aforesaid which had beene granted or were mentioned or intended to be granted to the said Duke in & by Two Severall Letters Pattent made by his late Matie King Charles the Second the one

bearing date on or about the Twelfth day of March in the Sixteenth yeare of his reigne the other bearing date on or about the twenty nynth day of June in the Twenty sixth yeare of his said reigne TO BE held enjoyed Exercised & Executed by the said Edward Bylling his Heires & assignes And by his & their deputies officers Agents & Com'ission's as fully & amply to all intents constructions & purposes as the said Duke or his Heires might could or ought to hold enjoy use exercise & execute the same by vertue of the said Letters Patent or otherwise howsoever as in & by the said recyted Indenture inrolled in the High Court of Chancery relation being thereunto had may more at large appeare AND whereas the said Edward Bylling is since dead & the Heires of the said Edward Bylling have Transferred all the said powers jurisdictions authorities & Government of & in West New Jersey & other the p'misses aforesaid to the said Daniel Coxe his Heires and Assignes in which said Daniel Coxe the same are now vested AND whereas the said S Thomas Lane Michael Watts Edmond Harrison Thomas Skinner James St Johns Nicholas Hayward Mordecai Abbott Nicholas Battersley Robert Curtis John Jurin Richard Bromhall Robert Michell Charles Michel James Boddington John Gunston Arthur Shallett John Lamb William Wightman Joseph Brooksbank William Thompson Henry Harrington John Love Thomas Phipps Isaac Cocks John Sweetable Edward Bromfeild John Norton Robert Hackshaw John Bridges Joseph Paice Edward Richier William Dunch Edward Habbersfeild John Alberson Edward West Edward Pauncefort Obadiah Burnett ffrancis Michel Benjamin Steele John Slaney Nehemiah Erwing John Wilcocks Richard Mayo Jonathan Netheway William Brooks Tracey Pauncefort Joseph Allen & Richard Greenaway have purchased of the said Daniel Coxe severall shares proprieties & Tracts of Land in West New Jersey aforesaid

and elsewhere in America aforesaid and designe to lay out Considerable sum'es of money in improving & planting the said Province & p'misses And to establish a Convenient Governm' there Now THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that for the better accomplishm' of the purposes afores" and for & in consideration of a competent sum'e of lawfull money of England to the said Daniel Coxe in hand paid by the said S Thomas Lane Michel Watts Edmond Harrison Thomas Skinner James St Johns Nicholas Hayward Mordecai Abbott Nicholas Battersley Robert Curtis John Jurin Richard Bromhall Robert Michel Charles Michel James Boddington John Gunston Arthur Shallet John Lamb William Wightman Joseph Brooksbank William Thompson Henry Harrington John Love Thomas Phipps Isaac Cocks John Sweetable Thomas Bromfeild John Norton Robert Hackshaw John Bridges Joseph Paice Edward Richier William Dunch Edward Habbersfeild John Alberson Edward West Edward Pauncefort Obadiah Burnett ffrancis Michel Benjamin Steele John Slaney Nehemiah Erwing John Wilcocks Richard Mayo Jonathan Netheway William Brooks Tracy Pauncefort Joseph Allen & Richard Greenaway at or before the ensealing & delivery of these p'sents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged the said Daniel Coxe HATH Granted Transferred & assigned And by these p'sents doth grant transfere & assigne to the said S'Thomas Lane Michael Watts Edmond Harrison Thomas Skinner James St Johns Nicholas Hayward Mordecai Abbott Nicholas Battersley Robert Curtis John Jurin Richard Bromhall Robert Michel Charles Michel James Boddington John Gunston Arthur Shallet John Lamb William Wightman James Brooksbank William Thompson Henry Harrington John Love Thomas Phipps John Cocks John Sweetable Thomas Bromfeild John Morton Robert Hackshaw John Bridges Joseph Paice Edward Richier William Dunch Edward Habbersfeild John Alberson