Letter from Governor Boone to the Lords of Tradereferring to the amicable proceedings of the last Assembly. [From P. R. O. B. T. New Jersey, Vol. 9, K. 8.] New Jersey Perth Amboy Dec 15th 1760 My Lords I have the honour to Acquaint you that the general Assembly of this Province which met the Twenty Seventh of October after a Session of near Seven Weeks Ended very Amicably; I flatter myself your Lordships will not disapprove of my Transactions when I transmitt you a more Particular Account of our Proceedings & Copies of the different Acts that I have Passed, which shall be done with all Possible Expedition, Each under a separate Seal as I observe was Signified to Gov Bernard, The Government is Supported for two years, which has not been done till now since the year 1749. The office of Chief Justice is Provided for also without the Persons being named, as was usual. This (with some Difficulty) I obtained on Account of the uncertainty I am in with Regard to the Contest Mr Jones & Mr Morris, who lately has Presented me a Memorial that I Enclose your Lordships which will Excuse my Expressing an Impatience to Receive Your Lordships Directions in that Matter. I have the Honour to be with the greatest Respect My Lords Your Lordships most Obed' & most Humble Servant. THO: BOONE. Letter from Governor Boone to the Secretary of the Lords of Trade in relation to the defective Post arrangements in the Province. Sir * * * [From P. R. O., B. T., New Jersey, Vol. 9. K. 5.] PERTH AMBOY Jany 12th 1761 [Extract.] I mean that this should be Conveyed to you by the Halifax Packet now under sailing orders, but by the Posts not passing either through this Place, or Burlington, the only two places where the legislature is ever assembled, unless upon very uncommon Occasions,' I may sometimes appear tardy to their Lordships with all the Inclination to be otherwise; I have already Endeavour'd by an application to La Besborough to Obtain an order for the Posts passing through here as formerly, who has been Polite Enough to write me a favourable Answer, but at the Same has referr'd it to Mr Franklyn who is the very Person as I am told, that alter'd its Route, and that too upon some Pique; If their Lordships should think Proper to mention this to the Postmaster General it would undoubtedly be Remedied' I am Sir Your most Obedient & most Humble Servant THO: BOONE. 1 For an account of the mail and traveling facilities in New Jersey during the Colonial period see "Contributions to the Early History of Perth Amboy and Sur rounding Country,” p. 267.-Ed. 2 This extract from the Governor's letter was referred to Henry Potts, Secretary to the Post Master General on April 9, 1761.--ED. Petition of Philip Swartwout and others—Northern Boundary Dispute. [From New York Colonial MSS., fol. 69.] To the Honourable Cadwallader Colden Esq president of his majesty's Councill & Commander in chief of the province of New York The Petition of Philip Swartwout an Inhabitant of Ulster in the province of New York. Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioner Together with one William Cutteback in behalf of themselves and others Inhabitants with in this province did some time in the month of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and fifty nine prefer their humble Petition to the Honourable James DeLancey Esq late Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of this province therein among other things setting forth the peculiar Hardships to which your Petitioner was then exposed by reason of the prosecution of a certain action of Ejectment against your petitioner in the Supream Court of the province of New Jersey for your petitioners Lands lying within this province of New York. That your Petitioner a few days before the presenting of the said Petition in order to prevent the intire ruin of himself and his family which would inevitably have ensued on a Rigorous Execution of the writ of Possession in the said Ejectment and being unprovided with Council to advise him in so distressing a situation was obliged to accept of a Lease from a person Claiming under a New Jersey Title a Copy of which. Lease is hereunto annexed, Conceiving such acceptance to be the only means of releif, until he could resort to the Government of this province, which he soon after did by his abovementioned Petition. That such vigorous measures were taken by the said Honourable James DeLancey as Commander in chief of this province that your petitioner had the highest reason to hope for the undisturbed possession of his farm until a final Settlement of the Controverted Bounds Between this province and the province of New Jersey, little Immagining himself to be in Danger from any ill use that might be made of the aforesaid Lease so extorted from him as aforesaid as long as the Government of this province should think proper to exercise a Jurisdiction, which in its extent would include your petitioners farm. And however notwithstanding the steps which were taken by the Government of this Province in Consequence of the aforesaid Petition, sundry persons who call themselves Inhabitants of New Jersey to wit * * * Randell Abraham Johnson Nathaniel Westfall and Nicholas Emmons forcibly seized your Petitioner being then on his farm within this province and in Virtue of a pretended writ from some court in the province of New Jersey (which however they refused to shew or give a copy of to your petitioner) They compelled your petitioner to go with them into Sussex county in New Jersey aforesaid where they threatened to imprison your Petition unless he would enter into Bond with security in the penal Sum of Sixteen hundred Pounds to appear at the next County Court to be held in sussex aforesaid on the third Tuesday in February Instant to answer unto Jacob Westfall Simon Westfall and Deborah Davis: which Bond Your Petitioner dreading the miseries to which an Imprisonment in this rigorous season of the year would Naturally expose him was constrained to enter into and procure one Johannes Westbrook to be bound with him in the same. That as the said arrest was made within this province and the said Bond obtained of your Petitioner by Duress your petitioner thinks it would be a great Hardship should he be obliged to appear and make his Defence in a New Jersey Judicatory in which Considering the Nature of the Controversy he cannot Expect Justice will be administered to him. Your petitioner therefore humbly prays that your Honour will be pleased to take him under your Protecion and grant him such releif in the premisses as in your Honours superior Wisdom shall seem meet. And your petitioner shall ever pray &Ca PHILIP SWARTWOUT. CITY OF NEW YORK Ss; The above named Philip Swartwout being duly sworn Deposeth and saith that the matters of fact contained in the above petition are true & further saith not. Sworn this day of PHILIP SWARTWOUT. February 1761 Before me WM. SMITH. THIS INDENTURE made this twelfth day of September in the Thirty third year of the Reign of King George the Second Anno: Dom: 1759 Between Anthony Vannatta Esq' of the first part And Philip Swartwout of the second part WITNESSETH that the said Anthony Vannatta for the rents & Covenants herein after mentioned have Demised set and to farm let unto the said Philip Swartwout all that Lot of Land that the said Philip Swartwout have Summer fallowed and plowed this year, Excepting Twelve Skeaple Sowing to be taken of the lore End of the plow'd Land and the said Philip Swartwout is to have twelve Skeaple' sowing 1 Schepel is Dutch for bushel.-[W. N.] |