Our Lord one Thousand six hundreth seventie and eight Did devise the same and all his Estate therein amongst other things To the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Sandwich the Right Honourable John Earl of Bath The Right Honourable Thomas Lord Crew Barron Crew of Steane The Honourable Bernard Greenvile Esquire brother of the said Earl of Bath The Honourable Sir Robert Atkins Knight of the Bath and the Honourable Sir Edward Atkins Knight one of the Barrons of his Majesties Court of Exchequer and their Heirs in trust to sell the same for payment of his Debts and Legacie as in and by the said will relation being thereunto had may appear and shortlie after dâ—ed And whereas the said John Earl of Bath Thomas Lord Crew Bernad Greenvile Sir Robert Atkins and Sir Edward Atkins by Indentures of Lease bearing date the fifth and sixt dayes of March in the 32 year of his Majesties Reign Conveyed the said Premisses amongst other things to Thomas Cremer of the Parish of Sanct Andrews Holbern in the Countey of Midle sex Gentleman and Thomas Pecock of the same Gentleman As by the said Indentures Relation being thereunto had it may appear And whereas the said Earl of Sandwick by his Indentures bearing date the Twenty day of February last past Hath released all his Estate Interest and trust in the said Premisses To the said Earl of Bath Lord Crew Bernard Greenvile Sir Robert Atkins and Sir Edward Atkins and their Heirs As by the said Indenture relation being thereunto had may appear And whereas the said Earl of Bath Lord Crew Bernard Greenvile Sir Robert Atkins and Sir Edward Atkins by the Consent and directions of Dam Elizabeth Cartwright Relict and Executrix of the said sir George Cartwright and the said Thomas Cremer and Thomas Pecock by the consent and directions of the said Dam Elizabeth Cartwright Earl of Bath Lord Crew Bernard Greenvile sir Robert Atkins and Sir Edward Atkins Have by Indentures of Lease and Release bearing date the first and second dayes of February last past Granted and conveyed to the said William Penn Robert West Thomas Rudyard Samuell Groome Thomas Hart Richard Mew Thomas Wilcox of London Goldsmith Ambrose Rigg John Haywood Hugh Hartshorn Clement Plimisted and Thomas Cowper their Heirs and assignes all the said premisses called East-New-Jersey Together with all Isles Islands Rivers Mines Mineralls Woods Fishings Hawkings Huntings Foulling and all other Royalties Priviledges Franchess Forts Harbours Profits Commodities and Hereditaments whatsoever thereunto belonging As in And by the said Indentures relation being thereunto had may more at large appear And whereas the said William Penn Robert West c. Have since conveyed one Moyties of that said tract of Land called East-New-Jersey and of all other the Premisses to the said James Earl of Perth John Drummond Robert Barclay Robert Gordon Arent Sonmans Gavin Lowrie Edward Billings James Branie William Gibson Thomas Barker Robert Turner and Thomas warne who are hereby become tennents in common of the said Premisses called East-New-Jersey with the said William penn Robert West Thomas Rudyard Samuell Groome Thomas Hart Richard Mew Thomas Wilcox Ambrose Rigg John Hay Wood Hugh Harthorns Clement Plumsted and Thomas Cowper And whereas the said Thomas Wilcox hath since conveyed all his Share Estate and Interest in the said Premisses to the said David Barclay and his Heirs And whereas by the said severall recited Letters Patents made by his said Majestie unto his said Royall Highness as aforesaid several powers and Authority are and were Given granted unto his said Royall Highness his Heirs and Assignes to be execut by his said Royall Highness his Heirs or Assignes or by the Deputies Agents or Commissioners of his said Royall Highness his Heirs or Assignes which are necessarie as well for the Planting Peopleing and Improving of all and every the respective Lands Places and Territories thereby granted And for the Transporting thither from time to time such of his Majesties Subjects as should be willing to go or be Transporting into these parts or any of them As for the Defending Guarding and keeping of the same As also for the well governing of the same and of all such as are and shall be inhabiting in the same And for the making ordaining and executing of necessarie and convenient Laws and Constitutions in order to such Government and the Punishing and Pardoning Offences and Offenders as occasion shall require And to Nominat Make Ordain Constitut and Confirm And also to Revock Discharge Change and Alter all and Singular Governours Officers and Ministers which by his said Royall Highness his Heirs or Assignes shall be from time to time thought fit and needfull to be made ordained appointed or used in the saids parts or places or any of them And to do all other things needfull usefull and necessarie for the well Governing keeping Defending and preserving the said respective places and Territories and of every of them and all such as are or shall be Inhabiting there Now These Presents Witnesseth That for and in consideration of a competent sume of Lawfull English money unto his said Royall Highness in hand payed And for the better Extingushing all such claimes and Demands as his said Royall Highness or his Heirs may any wayes have of or in the Premisses aforesaid now called East-New-Jersey or any part of them And for the further and better settling and conveying Assuring and Confirming of the same and of every part thereof according to the purport and true meaning of these presents His said Royal Highness the said James Duke of York hath granted bargained sold released and confirmed And by these presents as far as in him lyeth Doth grant bargaine sell release and confirme unto the said James Earl of Perth John Drummond Robert Barclay c. their Airs or Assignes All that part share and portion and all these parts shars and portions of all that entire Tract of Land and all these entire premisses so granted by his said Royal Highness unto the said John Lord Barclay and Sir George Cartwright and their Airs as in by and upon the said partition was and were Vested in the said Sir George Cartwright and his Airs and then agreed to be called by the name of East-New-Jersey Together with all Islands Bays Rivers Waters Forts Mines Querries Royalties Franchises and Appurtenances whatsoever to the same belonging or in any wayes appertaining And all the Estates Rights Title Interest Reversion Remainder Claime or Demand whatsoever as well in Law as in Equitie of his said Royal Highness James Duke of York of in to or out of the same or any part or parcell of the same As also the free use of Bayes Rivers and Waters leading unto or lying between the said Premisses or any of them in the said parts of East-New-Jersey for Navigation free Trade Fishing or otherwayes To have and to hold unto the said Earl of Perth John Drummond Esquire c. their Airs and Assignes for ever To the only use and
Fowlings and all other Royalties Profits Commodities and Hereditaments unto the said premises belonging and appertaining with their and everie of their appertainances And all his said Majesties Estate Right Title Interest Benefite Advantage Claime and Demand of in and to the said Provinces or any part or parcell thereof and the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders together with the yearlie and other Rents Revenues and profits of the same And of every part and parcel thereof To hold unto his Airs Royall Highness the said James Duke of York his Airs and Assignes for ever To he Holden of his said Majestie his Airs and Successors among other things therein granted as of his Majesties Manour of East Greenwich in his Majesties County of Kent in free and Common Soccage and not in Capite or by Knight Service under the yearly-rent therein mentioned And whereas His Royall Highness The said James Duke of York Did theretofore by Severall good and Sufficient Conveyances and assurances under his hand and Seall duely executed and daited the Twenty third and Twenty fourt dayes of June in the Sixteen year of his said Majesties Reign for the Consideration therein mentioned Grant and Convey the said Tract of Land and Premisses before mentioned to John Lord Barclay Baron of Stratton and one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council And sir George Cartwright of Saltram in the County of Devon Knight and Barronet and one of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council and their Heirs the said Tract of land and premisses particularly before mentioned And the Reversion and Reversions Remander and Remanders of the same to hold unto the said John Lord Barclay and sir George Cartwright their Heirs and Assignies for ever under the yearly Rent of twenty Nobles Sterline payable as the same is therein reserved to be paid And whereas his said Majestie did by others his Letters Patents dated the twenty ninth day of June in the six and twentieth yeaâ— of his said Majesties Reign grant and convey unto his said Royal Highness and his Heirs for ever aswell the said tract of Land and premisses herein before recited to have been granted and conveyed by his said Royall Highness unto the said John Lord Barclay and Sir George Cartwright as aforesaid As all other the Lands and Hereditaments in and by the said herein first before recited Letters Patents granted or mentioned to be granted And whereas His said Royall Highness by his indentures of Lease and release bearing date the _____ dayes of July in the six and twenty year of his said Majesties Reign Did grant and convey the said tract of Land and premisses to the said Sir George Cartwright his Airs and Assignes as by the said Indentures Relation being thereunto had may appear And whereas upon a partition made of the said whole and entire premisses between the said Sir George Cartwright And William penn of Worminhurst in the Countrey of Sussex Esquire Gavin Lawrie of London Merchant Nicolas Lucas of Hertford in the Countey of Hertford Malster Edward Billing of West-minster in the Countey of Midlesex Gentleman In whom the Fee Simple of the said John Lord Barclays undivyded Moyeties of all and Singular the premisses by good and sufficient conveyance was then vested The said William Penn Gavin Lowrie Nicolas Lucas and Edward Billing did bargian sell release and confirm unto the said Sir George Cartwright his Heirs and Assignes all that Easterly part share and portions and and all these Easterly parts shares portions the said whole and entire Tract of Land and Premisses beforementioned Extending Eastward and Northward alongst the Sea-Coasts and the said River called Hudsons River from the East-side of a certain place or harbour lying on the Southren part of the same tract of Land and commonly called or knâ—wen in a Mape of the said tract of Land by the name of Little Egge harbour to that part of tho said River called Hudsons-River which is in fourty one degrees of Latitude being the farthermost part of the said Tract of Land and Premisses which is bounded by the said River and crosing over from thence in a Straight Lyne extending from that part of Hudsons-River aforsaid to the most Northermost branch of the aforementioned River called Delawar River And to the most Northerly point and Boundarie of the said entire Tract of Land and premisses now called the North-partition Point And from thence that is to say from the North partition point Extending Southward unto the more Southerly point by a straight and direct Lyne drawen through the said tract of Land from the said North partition point unto the said South partition point by the consent and agreement of ohe said parties now called the Lyne of partition And by them intended for the dividing and making a partition of the said Easternly part Share and portion from the Westernly part Share and portion of the said tract of Land and premisses And all and every the Isles Islands Rivers Mynnes Mineralls Woods Fishings Hawkings hunttings and Foullings and all other Royalties Governments powers Forts Franchises Harbours Profits Commodities and Hereditaments whatsoever unto the said Easternly part Share and portion of the said Tract of Land and premisses belonging or in any waves appertaining with their and every of their appertenances And all the Estate Right Tittle Interest Property Claim and Demand whatsoever of them the said William Penn Gavin Lowrie Nicolas Lucas and Edward Billing and of each and every of them of in to and out of the said Easternly part Share and portion of the said Tract of Land and Premisses and every part and parcell thereof And the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders of the same and every part and parcell of the same All which said Easternly part Share and portion parts Share and portions was and were then and now is and are by the Consent and agreement of the said parties to the said partition called and agreed from thenceforth to be called by the names of East-New-Jersey and is all that and only all that part Share and portion and all this parts shares and portion of the said Tract of Land and premisses so conveyed by his said Royall Highness as aforesaid as lyeth extended Eastward from the Eastside of the said Lyne of partition before mentioned To hold unto the said Sir George Cartwright his Heirs and Assignes in severaltie to the use of him the said Sir George Cartwright his Heirs and Assignes for ever Vpon which partition so made and such conveyances so executed as aforesaid He the said Sir George Cartwright became Seazed of all that Easternly part of the said premisses now called East-New-Jersey with the appertenances in Severaltie And whereas the said Sir George Cartwright being by vertue of the said Assurances and partition aforesaid soll Seazed to him and his Heirs of the said premisses called East-New-Jersey by his Last Will and Testament in writing bearing date on about the first day of December in the year of
just now built in Perth altogether of Cedar-Wood it is reckoned a wood of no value here except for its lastiness I intend to follow Planting my self and if I had but the small Stock here I have in Scotland with some more servants I would not go home to Aberdeen for a Regencie as was profered me neither do I intend it however hoping to get my own safe over we are not troubled here leading our pitts mucking our Land and Ploughing 3. times one Plouing with 4. or 6. Oxen at first breaking up and with 2. horse only thereafter suffices for all you may judge whither that be easier Husbandrie than in Scotland But I know you are no good Husband-man But which of the foresaid trades you will choice if you will come here you self is more then I can divine or will advise you to I have told you how things are and in Gods-Name take your own choice as I have done I shall tell you what I would do were I in your place if it shall fall out you do come I would get some trusty Comorads Merchants to joyn with me and sett up a trade in Perth for I think a mans own trade fitts him best if you have 5000. Merks it is enough 4. in goods and one in money Let none come here destitute of money it is of great request here and gets chape Penyworths and 25. per cent of advantage by it but I doe not advise you for if you should meet with such trouble and disopoyntments as we have done by being put by our Post you would perhapps be discouraged give me the blame all our baggadg is not yet come from Maryland and I want yet my bed Cloathes and the Land I intend to settle on is not yet purchassed from the Indians for after I have viewed all the Province such of it as is yet habitable I have chosen the South branch of Rariton-River for conveniency of Fishing Fowling and Meadow but all the best Land lyes back from the Rivers and the Sea Costs the further back the better it is which necessitates me to go a mile back In breif what you heard of the countrey is all true so I need not spine out long Discriptions of it no unbyassed and indifferent Person will speak ill of the Land it is both pleasant and wholesome and industrous People after some few years Labour may lead a pleasant easie Life and want for nothing And I am of opinion may grow rich too if they take pains for it and follow Merchandising and some are actaually grown rich since they came here who had nothing before if any shal miscredit what I have said I shall not think my self baffled for that but let them live in their opinion and I will live in mine And if they please they may do with me as I did with John Skeens Wife cast my Letters in mine own teeth and when they come upon the place I shall make good what I say face to face as she did to me and if they come not themselves they need not trouble themselves whither it be true or false The goods fit for this Countrey are all kind of house-hold Plenishing without which and a years provision in victualls let none come hither if they would wish not to be preyed on by the old Planters All course cloath such as hodden-grayes and Playding course Stockâ—ns and Linning no fine things for an infant Countrey except for a mans own use course Bedding and Blankets Governour Barclay can give you full information as to this point The Inconveninencies we have met with are great trouble and charges for want of our baggadge there is likewise trouble and charges in the first setlement in carting out ones goods to the woods fencing is the cheif Difficulty and if theâ—e be many great trees the logges most be drawn off with oxen and the branches burned the trees are falled equal to a mans thigh hight but the roots are no impediments where is much brush the roots most be plucked up with grubbing howe 's any man may learn Husbandries here who was not aquaint with it in Scotland Tobacco would grow here as well as in Maryland but it is best for European graines I doe not intend to write more Letters to Edinburgh with this occasion being busied about mine own setlement therefore I intreat you will remember me to all my friends Relations Comarads and Acquaintances at Edinburgh and shew them of my wellfair that I had not my health so well this 7. years bygone as now Blessed be God and that I am not troubled here with coughs and head aikes as in Edinburgh which is likewise a great motive for me to stay in this Countrey I intreat to hear from them all you will not readily miss occasions from London every Moneth to some place in America And there is ordinarly occasions hither from the Neighbour Collonies I have received Letters from the Bissets and my Brother from Mr. Alexander since we came I intreat to hear particularly from the Professor of Divinitie and Mathematicks Doctor Pitcairn Mr. George Burnet Richard Maitland Mr. George Alexander and any others who shall ask for me wishing you and all your concerns well I continue Dear Cusin Your most affectionate Cusin and humble Servant Charles Gordon P stscript by the foresaid hand If any pleases to tell me what their scruples are I shall endeavour to answer them if Servants knew what a Countrey this is for them and that they may live like little Lairds here I think they would not be so Shey as they are to come and during their service they are better used then in any place in America I have seen you may know my Subscription by the sign I gave you of my Pistoles misserving in the Boat or at least when you tell your Mother you may mind on me for you will miss some pints of wine you spent with me that Fridays night you convoyed me aboard on the Shore and in the Ship If there were a Caball of Merchants here to export the product of the Countrey to Barbadoes and the West-Indies and to Import Rumm Malasses Suggar and Cotton c. it would do a great deal of good to this Countrey I intreat to know what remarkable Revolutions has hapned either abroad or at home since I came away Any Merchants who settles here must take Lotts in the Town and build houses Mr. David Mudie is building a stone house and hath already an Horse-mill ready to set up presently in New-Perth Adue For Mr. James Mudie Merchant in Montrose New-Perth the 9th of March 1685. Sir MY Love ever being remembered to your self Lady and Children these are earnestly intreating you to let my Wife have any little thing she stands in need of untill it shall please the Lord I return and I shall pay you very thankfully I have left Thomas Parson and resolves to trade this Summer in the Countrey and to come home with your Uncle