Hi - more docs. [#R: Here are four short(-ish) texts relating to the Palatines shipped to the Americas. These span the period from November 1710 to April 1715 and show the disarray of the entire Naval Stores and pitch-and-tar projects. We might wonder how many of our later families were descended from the children engaged in this appalling work. A very good account of the whole business is to be found in Walter Knittle's book.] ***START HERE*** Printed Calendar of Treasury Papers for 1708-1714 MS Vol 125 No 45 Letter dated at New York 1710 Nov 14th Robt Hunter to the Lords The Commissioners of Trade would inform them That there would be no revenue there. Asks that her Majesty would order payment of his salary. The Commissioners would also inform their Lordships That the Palatines were now settled on the Hudson River near the pine land, so that this project could not fail of success. £15000 a year for the next two years would do the work effectually, being about half of what was first thought necessary. Her Majesty might depend upon tar enough for her Navy from her colonies for ever, for there was pitch pine enough if the number of hands were increased, to serve all Europe. Orphans were disposed of to those who undertook to maintain and educate them, and "by their going to work for wages in the country." Each persons account was kept apart as they had to repay what they got now by their labour hereafter. In all probability their numbers would increase, for they were now very healthfull. Dated at New York 14th November 1710 ----------------------------------- Printed Calendar of Treasury Papers for 1708-1714 P311 MS Vol 237 No 25 Letter dated 12 September 1711 Ro Hunter Governor of New York to Mr Lowndes Had not time to particularly enquire into Mr Bridger's conduct with relation to her Majesty's woods, But had heard that great waste had been committed by his giving deputations to persons having saw mills, and receiving from them a yearly salary. By her Majesty's Letters Mr Bridger was ordered to attend the Palatines, and instruct them in the tar trade, And with him, the Governor visited the woods and fixed the place of their settlement, and Bridger was allowed to return to New England for the winter, upon promise to return early in the spring, when they were to be set to work. This he had since positively refused to do, so that, if that good work depended upon him, one whole year was lost. But, suspecting his ability and not a little his integrity, He, the Governor, found another who better understood the matter. By all Bridger's proceedings, he, the Governor, verily believed, he was hired to betray her Majesty's interests. The work however was in the greatest forwardness. Had laid out all the money he could raise, and engaged all the credit he could make. It should not fail at his door, though he should be ruined. Had prepared 100000 trees, And the very children, when he was there, had made between three and four score barrels of tar out of the knots, and by that time, had made as much more. Has drawn upon the Lord High Treasurer for above half a years subsistence for that people. Dated New York 12 Sep 1711 -------------------------------- Printed Calendar of Treasury Papers for 1708-14 p 398 MS Vol 149 No 1 Letter dated New York 22 June 1712 from Col Ro Hunter to the Lord High Treasurer Advises his Lordship of Bills drawn upon him for £3437 6s 2d in favour of Mr Micajah Perry for the subsistence of the Palatines p 398 MS Vol 149 No 2 Letter dated at New York 23 June 1712 Same to same Must lay before his Lordship a True State of the Affairs of the Palatines. The work was forwarder than could have been expected. The trees answered expectations, And this Fall, he had 100000 ready to be cut down and burnt for tar. The Lords of Trade proposed to employ 3000 Palatines in the production of Naval Stores in New York. They were to be subsisted by the Public, the adults at 6d a day and the children at 4d untill they could subsist themselves. This was approved of by Her Majesty in Council. £8000 were issued to him for their immediate subsistence. He made the Palatines enter into a Contract to follow the Work, and he purchased lands for them on the Great River, near to the pine woods, settled them in good houses and plantations, and kept them constantly on the tar work, By which they would, in a few years, quit the debt they owed the Crown. Had gone on laying out all the money he and his friends were masters of, for subsisting and employing that People. But had not heard that any of his bills were paid; Nor could he, for the Public Good, leave off doing so. Had reaped nothing but fatigue torture and trouble and the pleasure of having surmounted opposition and difficulties next to insurmountable. Has acquainted the Lords of Trade How basely Mr Bridger had done, what he could, to betray the work. His practice with the Queen's woods had been equally vicious If he escaped punishment, such as served her Majesty with disinterested zeal at the distance, would be discouraged and suffer under such treachery….. (The letter goes on about other matters - TG) ---------------------------- Printed Calendar of Treasury Papers 1708 - 1714 p 444 MS Vol 154 No 59 Letter dated at New York 27 Nov 1712 Caleb Heathcote to the Lord High Treasurer touching the pitch and tar design The Palatines had prepared about 70000 trees which they supposed would make 2400 tons. It would be much more for her Majesty's advantage and that of the natives to have the tar and pitch contracted for there. The Crown might contract for any quantity they pleased if the method answered as in the Baltic or Russia, there being several Gentlemen who had large tracts of pine woods, who only waited to see the success of the experiment, when they intended to fall upon it. Minuted "24 March 1712/13 Scheme mentioned with an extract of the Letter sent to the Commissioners of the Navy" 2 pages 4to -------------------------- Printed Calendar of Treasury Papers 1714 - 1719 p 103 MS Vol 189 No 64 Order in Council 30 April 30 April 1715 referring for Report to the Lords of the Treasury a Petition of Robert Hunter esq Governor of New York for payment of disbursements made by him, for subsisting 3000 poor Palatines employed in the Province of New York in the production of Naval Stores. The petition is in the original MMSS but is not printed ***END HERE*** [It seems a pity that the correspondence relating to the émigrés to North America is so sketchy; but clearly Tenison Goves was following a specific brief, so most of the documentation refers to the Palatines in Ireland. If you didn't know already, the reference "2 pages 4to" refers to the size of sheet (quarto), which is slightly smaller than A4. So….OK, you knew - sorry. I had to think about it though; I don't like to leave anything out] That's all Terry