[5-51] [Document in French relative to Ransoms of Vessels taken by French Privateers. Translated by Otis G. Hammond.] Memorial for the ST Pecarrere, privateer of Bayonne. That Count de Guerchy is charged by the Court with employing himself in the service of the British Ministry, to obtain the necessary orders addressed to the Governor of New England, to procure to Sr Pecarrere, privateer of Bayonne, the payment of two bills of ransom which are due to him from the proprietors of two English vessels of the said place, taken the 14th of April 1761 by the Frigate "l'Audacieuse," which he had armed for privateering, and of which he had given the command to Captain Veillon. The first of these prizes was the "Hampshire," Captain James Guppey, belonging to St James Garvin, merchant of the Port of Piscataqua in New England. The second, named the "Deborah," Captain Barthemy Gooning, belonged to Sr Henry Carter, merchant of the same Port. The Captains ransomed their vessels by means of two bills, which they passed on Captain Veillon, one for the "Hampshire" of £300 sterling payable to Captain François at the rate of 24 of France for a pound sterling; the other, for the "Deborah," of £500 sterling under the same conditions. For the security of these bills, each of them gave Captain Veillon a man from his crew. These hostages were taken to Capt. François, where they died, notwithstanding all the care which was taken for their welfare: Srs Garvin and Carter having ascertained this, have constantly refused and still refuse to pay the bills given by the Captains in their solemn agreements. All the solicitations made in regard to this, by Messrs Mesuieres and Clarisse, correspondents of S Pecarrere, have been useless and without effect. The refusal of Srs Garvin and Carter is ill founded; it is not surely, the existence of hostages which confirms the validity of these bills of ransom. The receivers did not require the signatures to be witnessed, supposing that they could take the ransoms of the Captains, and the false indications which they could give in regard to their proprietors, as well as their place of residence. These are also the considerations for which the love of liberty made him interest himself in the payment of the ransom agreed upon, and in the paying themselves, in case of the insolvency of part of the proprietors. One would regard them on the same footing as the endorsers of a bill of exchange, whose death can neither destroy the validity of the engagement, nor retard the payment of it. The Comte de Guerchy entreats his Excellency My Lord Halifax, to have the kindness to grant assistance to Sieur Pecarrere in obtaining the satisfaction which he has the right to expect, and in order to bring it about that he may, the Comte de Guerchy has gone to render to the Court an answer on that affair, which the Court has particularly requested him to do. [5-52] [John Sanborn's Certificate.] Stratham Febry ye 9th 1761 This is to Sartefie that mr John Sanborn on a Jorney to albany in Shearfield met with one Josiah Swett Belonging to Capt Jacob Tiltons Company in Co" Goffs Regt finding him in Destress Being Broak out with ye Small pox Lent him Three Dolars Province of New Hampshir Atest pr me Stratham Febuary ye 9th 1761 John Samborn Then The above Named John Sanborn Personally Appeared and Made oath to the truth of what is Above written; unto Which he has Subscribed his Name to be the truth and Nothing but the truth; Sworn Before me [5-52] And Wiggin Justis Peace [Petition of Moses Swett, 1761.] To his Excellency Benning Wintworth Esq' the Honble his Majies Council & house of Representatives Convened — The Pettion of Moses Swett humbly Shueth that he had a Son in the Lat Expedition which he fitted out with thing for the Sarvis, & on his Return home by the way of albeny in Shearfield was taken. with the Smallpox & was met with by one John Samborn, finding him in want Lent him three Dolers and Got him into a house where he Sune after Died. Your Petitioner therefore humbly prayes that You would Make him Such a Lowence for the three Dolors & Loss of Close as You in You Great Wisdom Shall See Meet and Your Pettioner in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray · Exeter Feby 1761 - } Moses Swett In the house of Representatives Ap1 21, 1761. Voted that there be Allowed & paid to Moses Sweet or his order Eighteen Shillings Sterlg Out of mony In the Treasury for the Last years Expedition & be In full of this petition for Doc's Bill på or Any other's Whatever on Accot of the Said Sweet 18$/ Sterlg In Council April 25th 1761 read & Concurrd Consented to A Clarkson Clerk Theodore Atkinson Sect B Wentworth [5-53] [Governor Wentworth's Proclamation.] By His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq' Capt General Governor & Commander in Chieff in & over his Majestys Province of New Hampshire in New England A Proclamation His Majesty having Nothing so much at Heart, as by the most vigorous Prossicution of the War, to reduce the Enemy to the Necessity of Accepting a Peace, on Terms of Glory & advantage to his Majestys Crown & Beneficial in particular to his Subjects in America: And as Nothing can so effectually contribute to that great and Essential object, as the King's being enabled to Employ as immedi ately as may be, Such Part of the regular Forces in North America, as may be adequate to some great & Important Enterprise against the Enemy, and it being his Majestys Pleasure, that in order the better to provide for the full & entire Security of his Majestys Dominions in North America; and perticularly of his Majestys Conquests there, during the absence of Such Part of the regular Forces as may be Employd in sd Enterprize; that this Government furnish two thirds of the men that were Employed the last Campaign. And whereas the Legislature of this Government, has resolved to Pay Five Hundred & Thirty four, able bodied & Effective Men, Officers included, to be employd in Securing his Majestys Conquests already made on this Continent, under Such Gen" officer as is, or may be Appointed by his Majty, to take the Command of them til the fifteenth Day of November next if not sooner Dismiss'd I do hereby Promise & engage, that all Such able bodied effective Men, as Shall enlist under Persons that recieve Beating orders from me, Shall be entituled to the following Pay, Gratuitys & rewards Viz That each Non Commission officer & Private Soldier Shall receive Thirty Shillings Sterling as a Bounty, & after he passes Muster & before he Marches, a further Bounty of Two Pounds Ten Shillings Sterling to Provide himself with Cloaths and also a Blanket and that each Private Shall receive Thirty Shillings Sterling Month Wages That they Shall not be detaind in the Service longer than the fifteenth Day of November next, and that Each officer & Private recieve one months Pay advance before Marching And Further that no noncommission officer or Private that Shall Inlist & Proceed on Said Service Shall be Lyable to have his Body arrested Stayd or Imprisoned during the Continuance of Said Service upon mean Process or Execution for any less Sum than Ten Pounds Sterling due to one Plaintiff. That all that find Arms & bring them into the field, shall recieve for each firelock that is Spoiled or lost in Actual Service, twenty five Shillings Sterling. and I hereby require all officers Civil & Military to use their utmost Influence in Encouraging & Promoting this Essential Service Given at the Council Chamber in Portsm° the 23d Day of April in 1st Year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of great Britain France & Ireland King Defender of the Faith, &c B Wentworth New Hampshire To His Excellency Benning Wentworth Esq' The Honourable His Majestys Council & House of Representatives The Petition of Nath" Thing Humbly sheweth - That whereas said Nath" Thing Voluntarily Enlisted himself a Soldier in the Service. of this Government & Served as such in the New Hampshire Regiment in Capt Marstins Company 1760 That on his return from said Service he was taken Sick at Keen with the small Pox & Ordered to a Pest House in Swanzey the Expence of which is in Account Exhibited herewith-Your petitioner Humbly prayeth your Honours to take into Consideration the Extra Expence of the Petitioner as acct may Appear & make him such Allowance as you in Your Great Wisdom shall think Proper—and Your Petitioner as in Duty Bound shall Ever pray Dated Exeter May 25th 1761 Test Peter Gilman his Nathaniel Thing Mark Province of New Hampshire In the house of Representatives May 27 1761 This petition being read Voted, That there be Allowed & paid to Nath' Thing or his ord five pounds ten Shillings Sterlg out of mony In the Treasury for the last years Expedition, & be In full for this petition & the Account herewith presented. A Clarkson Clerk £5,, 10/ Sterlg In Council June 2d 1761 read & Concurrd Consented to Theodore Atkinson Se B Wentworth [5-56] [Petition of Joseph Swett.] To His Excellence the Govener Benning Wintworth Esq' Captain Genereal and Commander in Cheaf in and over his Majesty Province of New Hampshir in New England and to his Majestys Honoreble Council and Genereal Assembly Convend at Portsmouth your Potisinor Humbly Sheweth that he was in his Majestys Serves at Crown Point the Last years Campain in Cornel John Gouff Esq' Rigement and Carried with me a horse and Left him at the Block house at Wintworth ferry so Called and that on the fall Major Samuel Gerrish was ordred from Crown Point with inveleads from Every Rigement of Provincials for the Block house and when Major Gerrish arrived at the Block house there was many men Left in the Woods unable to travil among them was Left Jeremiah Davis of Captain Jacob Tiltons Company for which Major Gerrish ordred Ensign Berry to Send a horse for Said Davis and he Did Send mine and She was Lost in that Serves which Will appear by Timothy Blacke Dipposion I Humbly pray that your Honours will take this under your wise Consideration and Do as in your Grate Wisdom Shall think Proper and I as in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray Joseph Swett [5-57] [Deposition of Timothy Blake, Jr.] Timothy Blake jn' of Hampton falls of Lawfull Age Testifies and Says That he this Deponent being a Soldier in the Service of this Province the last fall About the beginning of Octob' According to |