Thursday, February 25, 2016

CJ (#52) Some Troubles

It was now August 1692 that the Executive Council of Virginia records the following:

"The Rt Honoble the Lieut Govr caused to be read some Letters he had received from Coll Cadwalladr Jones (JO-1) Govr of Providence, Sent by William Thompson (THOM-1) Master of the Sloope Swann who arrived somefew days since, and was by his Honor received the 8th day of this Instant August, wherein he gives an account of some troubles betweene him, and the Inhabitants of the place, and desires that a Friggott may be Sent him from this Government to be with him by the 12th day of this Instant, but being but one Friggott in this Country, and the time the said Jones (JO-1) mentions Expired (if his desire had been thought reasonable) noething can be done therein."

Some troubles between him [Cadwallader Jones (JO-1)] and the inhabitants of the place.  It is the recording of these troubles that gets past down in the history books of the Bahamas. [Yet to come!]  At any rate, the "Government of Virginia" could not help.  This was also the bridge period between the house of Stuart [James II - Catholic], and William and Mary (Protestant) following "The Glorious Revolution of 1688".  A new Lieutenant Governor of Virginia was to arrive September 1692 that had been appointed by William and Mary. [Lord Howard of Effingham was governor at the writing of this record who had been appointed by James II.]

Friday, February 12, 2016

CJ (#51) A Reaction

On the same date that the letter from Cadwallader Jones (JO-1) was received at the Council of Colonial Virginia [July 5th 1692] a response was recorded as follows:

"On Considertion of the Intelligence received from Coll. Cadwallader Jones (JO-1) that a Barcho longo fitted out of Peteete Gwavors with two hundred Men, was designed to Chesepeake Bay and of the account received from New Yorke that the French have taken three Vessells of, of [off] Block Island.  The Rt Honoble the Lieut Govr is desired to acquaint his Excy Lionell Copley Esqrs (COP-1) Capt Genll and Govr in Chiefe of their Mas Province of Maryland with the News wee heare, and that it is Judged absolutely Necessary to keepe their Mas Ship Henry prize here to Cruise about the Capes."

A warning was sent to Maryland about the information from Cadwallader (JO-1) and the ship Henry was to "...Cruise about the Capes."  So at this point; Virginia, New York, and Maryland became aware of the increasing dangers from the French.

Taken from: Executive Journals, Council of Colonial Virginia, pp. 258 - 259.