CO 194/25 [Reel B-215]

Page

Date

From whom (where)

To whom (where)

Contents or nature of the document

Page 1 "Newfoundland Letters from Lt. Governor Hamilton Bradstreet, etc. from 9 June 1748 to 11 Jan. 1752"
2-5       Summary of the following documents by date. The names and a brief description are provided.
8 14 May 1729 Board of Trade   Report on Vere Beauclerk.
10-10v 9 June 1748 Lt. Gov. Hamilton (Placentia) Duke of Newcastle Hamilton found Newfoundland in a weak condition. He has formed a militia which was formed into 4 companies. He does not know of his Civil duties. Smith formed a civil government by appointing justices in every district but they are all gone. Requests orders or instructions to be sent to strengthen his position.
12 8 Oct. 1748 Lt. Gov. Bradstreet (St. John’s) Duke of Bedford Received a letter from Gov. Watson in Louisbourg regarding the King’s proclamation and to make it known to the inhabitants. Watson sent a copy of the literal translation of the suspension of arms made at Paris 1712.
14-14v 24 Nov. 1748 Governor Capt. Watson (Panther at Spithead) Duke of Bedford He gathered as much information as he could about the state of Newfoundland but as he will go to Louisbourg by mid Aug., he has instructed Capt. Jekyle to remain at that station during the fishing season. Capt. Pye is also ordered to that station. He received the letters about the Treaty for Cessation of Arms with Spain and France.
16 15 Aug. 1748 Capt. Watson   [enclosed with above] State and condition of Fort William. Description of the Saliant Angles, bernes, parapets, powder magazine, cannon, a barrack , powder room, and storehouse, to be built on the South side. The State and Condition of the Isle of Boyes in Ferryland (reported by William Cook, Chief Engineer of Newfoundland), of Trinity(by William Cook), Carbonear (by William Cook) and Placentia (as reported by Mr. Bruce, Deputy Engineer of Newfoundland.)
18-19   Capt. Watson   [enclosed with above] State and Remain of Ordnance and Military Stores at St. John’s (James Wibault/William Wigmore). Ammunition, arms, tools, flags, etc.
20-22v   Capt. Watson   [enclosed with above] Answers to the Heads of enquiry. (68 articles)
24 19 March 1749 Capt. Pye (Norwich at Chatham) Duke of Bedford He transmits the State of the Fishery.
26v-27   Capt. Pye   The State of the Fishery for the year 1748.
28 10 June 1749 Gov. Bradstreet (St. John’s) Duke of Bedford He received the Proclamation of Peace and friendship and has published it in all proper places on the island.
30-30v 28 Dec. 1749 Capt. Rodney, Governor (Rainbow at Woolwich) Duke of Bedford Upon his arrival in Newfoundland and in his capacity of Governor, he suggests that he be granted power to address the capital crimes committed on this island. Murders and crimes go unpunished here. Encloses all documents relating to Newfoundland.
32-38v 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] Account of Ordnance Stores remaining under the storekeepers’s care at Placentia.
40-47 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] An Account of Ordnance Stores remaining under the storekeeper’s care at St. John’s.
48-49 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] State of the Fishery for the year 1749.
50-59 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] Account of Ordnance stores at trinity remaining in the storekeeper’s care.
60-64 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] Account of the State and remains of the stores on Carbonear Island from 1 Oct. 1748 to 30 Sept. 1749.
66-73 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] Account of remains of ordnance stores at Ferryland.
74-78v 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] Answers to the Heads of Enquiry contained in his majesty’s instructions to Capt. Rodney. Names of the Justices of the Peace by district. P.78v (Jacob Taverner in Trinity)
80-80v 2 Oct. 1749 Rodney   [enclosed with above] A return of the troops in the garrison at Newfoundland (Ferryland, Carbonear, Trinity, St. John’s)
81-82 10 Aug. 1750 Bradstreet, Governor (St. John’s) Duke of Bedford Gov. Cornwallis asked for two of the regiments stationed here to be sent to Nova Scotia which Bradstreet did. The order to bring all the stores from Trinity, Carbonear and Ferryland to St John’s is almost completed.
83-84 10 Aug. 1750 Bradstreet (St. John’s) Bedford Copy of the above letter.
85-86 26 Dec. 1750 Capt. Drake, Governor (Mercury Longreach) Bedford Encloses all documents pertaining to Newfoundland and adds that appointing commissioners for Oyer & Terminer has been beneficial, no murders committed. Mentions Irish Papists.
87   Capt. Drake   [enclosed with above] A return of a company and detachment of artillery at St. John’s, Placentia, Ferryland, Carbonear, Trinity.
89-95v   Capt. Drake   [enclosed with above] Answers to the Heads of Enquiry.
100v-101   Capt. Drake   [enclosed with above] State of the Fishery and inhabitants for the year 1750.
102-103 22 Nov. 1751 Drake, Governor (Boston in the Downs) Duke of Bedford Sends the heads of Enquiry, the State of the fishery, etc. He wrote to major Hamilton at Placentia to send him the State of the garrison there and an account of the stores there but never received it before I sailed.
104 20 Aug. 1751 Drake   [enclosed with above] A return of the detachment of artillery at St. John’s, Ferryland, Carbonear, Trinity Bay. Signed by Drake and Bradstreet.
105v-106   Drake   [enclosed with above] State of the Fishery and inhabitants for the year 1751. Signed by Drake.
107-120   Drake   [enclosed with above] Answers to the Heads of Enquiry, a list of the Justices of the Peace (p.111) with the proceedings of a court (111v-120) of Oyer & Terminer begun and held at St. John’s, 12 Sept. and continued by adjournment to the 14th. The case is about the rape of Elizabeth Melvin (Ann Moore and Katharine Wheyland were her mistresses) by two soldiers (they "talked Irish together").
125-125v   Drake   [enclosed with above] An account of ordnance stores remaining at St. John’s 1 Aug..
127 11 Jan. 1752 Governor Drake Earl of Holdernesse He is sending a return of the garrison at Placentia.
129-131 11 Sept. 1751 Drake   Inventory of Ordnance in the garrison at Placentia and the return of the soldiers at the garrison.

End of Volume