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Turnbull Covets an Appointment as GovernorLord Hillsborough to James Grant Whitehall, February 11, 1771 I acquainted you in my letter of the 2nd of last month with my Intention to lay before the King your Recommendation of Mr. John Moultrie to be Lieutenant Governor of East Florida, and I have the now the Pleasure to inform you that His Majesty has been graciously pleased in consequence thereof to confer that office upon that Gentleman, and his Warrant will be made out with all possible Dispatch and delivered to such Person as Mr. Moultrie shall authorize to call for it, Colonial Office Papers Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan St. Augustine, February 15, 1771 Turnbull arrived in St. Augustine on January 5th to deliver indigo from Smyrnéa for shipment to London. He also planned to present the provincial register with for his latest land grant applications. But the weather turned bad at the time Turnbull arrived in St. Augustine and delayed his return to Smyrnéa. “I have been using three small tracts to make shingling timber. These tracts are in the names of Astle and Stone.” He judged these tracts as a very valuable location with very rich soil. “I have given up my residence in Town,” Turnbull lamented: “My family agreed to live [at Smyrnéa] with me as exiles from every convenience and amusement,” thereby informing his partners that he didn't spare himself unpleasantness when the welfare of the settlement was at stake. Turnbull also informed Duncan that he had only learned of the death of George Grenville after arriving in St. Augustine. He had a bad cold, and blamed it on riding several miles in wet clothing after swimming a creek on the way to town. But sick or not, Turnbull sent Duncan a box of cayenne peppers and samples of rum and sugar, all from East Florida. He wrote that all of the settlers at Smyrnéa were well; they had planted five hundred acres of corn recently, which was already coming out of the ground. While Turnbull was in St. Augustine, his nephew, also named Andrew Turnbull, was managing the Mosquito Inlet plantation. Dundee City Archive John Robinson to John Pownell, Esq. Treasury Chambers, March 8, 1771 Sir, “My Lords having resumed the consideration of your letter dated 25th Feb. 1769 transmitting an Extract of a letter from [James] Grant, Governor of East Florida, relative to the 1200 Greek Colonists introduced into that Province under the care of Doctor Turnbull and desiring to know whether my lords think fit that Governor Grant should be allowed to draw Bills for their subsistence in case the expence should become too heavy for the Undertakers, I am directed by My Lords' Commissioner of the Treasury to acquaint you for the information of the Earl of Hillsborough that their Lordships having by minute of this board of 23 March 1769 consisted that Governor Grant should draw for a sum not exceeding Two Thousand Pounds for the support of the Greek Colonists & at the same time desired at might be understood by Governor Grant that the Public were to be at no farther expense upon that Account. Their Lordships do not think themselves authorized to allow any farther sum of money for this service.” Colonial Office Papers Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan Smyrnéa, April 18, 1771 “Inclosed I send you the number of our people with their ages. Our arrival here in the worst and wettest season ever seen in this country bore very heavy on us. But even this bad season would not probably have proved so mortal if a previous poor living in the countries where these people came from had not impoverished their blood. The long voyage added to that bad state, and reduced them so low that they could not stand the shock of such a great change, as that from a dry Mediterranean air to a moist one. The air of this country is generally dry and wholesome, but unluckily for us, it was quite the contrary for many months after our arrival. “Our loss, which is about half, fell most on the very young and the older people. I would have sent you a list of them long ago, but waited till the health of those behind was so much confirmed as to ensure an increase rather than a decrease in future. This is now the case, and I am very certain of making fine Estates even with these left. “Whenever debts are paid and every account balanced, it will be easy for me to increase our numbers without stirring from this place, and without such expences and risks as were incurred by our first tryal. I mean, that is if it is found expedient and for our interest, such a step may be taken. I shall not, however, do anything either in this, or in things of much less moment, without the full command and approbation of the gentlemen concerned with me in this settlement....” “The ages and number of people belonging to the settlement of Smyrnéa in East Florida this 18th of March 1770 Under one year old --------------- 12 Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan St. Augustine, April 19, 1771 Turnbull wrote to Duncan to inform him that, contrary to a rumor in London, he had not been appointed lieutenant governor of East Florida. Governor Grant had informed Turnbull that John Moultrie would be appointed instead. Grant recommended Moultrie to Lord Hillsborough “on a promise made to him by the governor some years ago.” Turnbull protested that he, not Moultrie, deserved the appointment, since Moultrie had only brought twenty Negroes into East Florida from South Carolina, whereas “I brought hundreds of laborers. He didn't bring his family for one year after he came,” but Turnbull brought his family immediately. Nevertheless, Turnbull said about Governor Grant: he helped us greatly, and he governed well. In a second letter written on the same day, Turnbull exhorted Duncan to put pressure on government to build a good road from St. Augustine to Mosquito Inlet, and to arrange for a pilot to lead ships safely through Mosquito Inlet. He was disappointed about Governor Grant's recommendation of John Moultrie for the lieutenant governor position, and said the governor told him that he could not do the work of lieutenant governor and manage Smyrnéa at the same time. Turnbull disagreed, especially since government duty would only require him to be in St. Augustine once a month. He again pressured Sir William Duncan to use his influence in London to secure the lieutenant governor appointment for Turnbull. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan Smyrnéa, May 3, 1771 Turnbull reported that he had planted the trees and seeds Duncan sent from England, and that the indigo dye produced at Smyrnéa had been sent to London on the ship George, commanded by Captain Regan. He also reported it had been necessary to place an order with London merchant Thomas Nixon for “cloaths and other necessaries for our People last winter, the worst Negro cloathing costs twenty shillings a year for cash, that of our People has not gone so high. I was as sparing, not to say pinching, as possible in every part of their cloathing in order to save.” Provisions, flour and rice were being raised at the settlement in 1771. “Our Hogg pen has supplied us this year with about 120 Sterling of pork.” The intense heat of last summer, however, caused a “palsy of the loins,” that led to the death of a number of hogs, otherwise enough would have been produced to feed “all of our people.” This year, however, the entire hog supply was raised at Smyrnéa. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Governor James Grant Smyrnéa, May 9, 1771 “On information from two Indians of a settlement of Spaniards and Yamisies on Cape Florida and a misrepresentation of the people here by another Indian, brought an upper Creek Chief, the Cowkeeper, the Long Warrior and another head man with seventy two warriors and young men into this part of the country. At first they were sulky, out of humor, and beat some of a boat's crew they found at my cow keepers, but on having provisions sent to them and on being invited to this place, the head men, with twenty warriors came here last Friday, dined, got drunk, and went away in better humour. Two days afterwards they broke up their camp at the cowpen, and divided into two parties, one went round the head of St. Johns to return home. The other with the chiefs went thro' this place on Sunday. I ordered Langley Bryant and black Sandy to accompany the last party ‘till they saw them pass the Southern plantations on this river. But the Indians went no further than Captain Bissets', being then convinced that they had been imposed on as to the Yamisie Settlement. They returned here yesterday, eat and drank a good deal and went away very happy. A Chief of the upper Creeks commanded the whole and kept them in such order that, except the first scuffle, which happened at the cowpen about some provisions, they have not committed the least irregularity. This chief beat some of them very severely for offering to kill a calf which belonged to me. “I gave them Governor Grant's talk, and told them by his desire that he was going to see the great King, but would return soon, that in the mean time there was another Governor at St. Augustine, who would be glad to see this head man. Bryant accompanies him to St. Augustine. The upper Creek Chief is a sober manly Indian and seemed to be very watchful over the others for fear they should do anything wrong; he staid here ‘till all of them went away, as he saw that they were drunk. The Long Warrior returned to this place today to beg a calf for his people. I gave him one, and would rather give two at any time, than they should take one without leave. “As the party here of the 31st Regiment consists of a sergeant and eight men only, should be glad of a reinforcement, not so much for the protection a small number can give us, as for the appearance of our being under the care of government which these Indians seemed at first to doubt. James Grant Papers, Roll 22, file 121-123 Andrew Turnbull to Governor James Grant Smyrnéa, May 10, 1771 “I easily made up every difference between the Indian party and my people. They made very proper answers to your talk and were so well pleased with my treatment of them that they desired me to send them of anybody should molest me, that they would come with all their warriors and drive my enemies from me. I added to the talk with them that you was then going to see the great King, but that you would return soon, that in the meantime, a lieutenant Governor was at St. Augustine to give them provisions and presents as before. I found in the course of the talk with them that John Stewart, my cowpen man, had told them that I was to be Governor. This assisted to soften them at first when they were in very bad humour, and I cannot help thinking, Sir, that it would have been of importance to this settlement, that the lieutenant Governors commission had been given to me. It would have given me such an influence over the Indians, and in the province on many accounts it would have ensured the getting on of this settlement. I was perfectly easy when you was here. Your character among the Indians, your abilities, and readiness to assist ensured every thing. I have not that confidence in any other person, and shall take my measures accordingly. I shall think myself neglected, and that this settlement is not look't on in the light it should be by government. Your recommending a gentleman you had given your word to, does you honour, and must be approved of. If it was possible for me to respect you more than I do, that would have added to it, but Sir William was under no engagement, therefore ought to have urged the merits of our undertaking, with which no other in this province can even be put in competition. “Black Sandy, by whom I send this, is obliged to go off to the Indians at the cowpen, which hinders me from writing you a more correct letter. Mrs. Turnbull's wishes and mine are for the reestablishment of your health, and that you may succeed in every thing to your wishes.” James Grant Papers, Roll 22, 124-125 Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan Smyrnéa, May 20, 1771 The Indians have been troublesome at Smyrnéa, Turnbull charged, terrorizing women and children living at the farms and causing them to flee from their houses. The Turnbull family also experienced the terror, prompting him to “put them into an open boat at midnight, exposed to the weather for thirteen hours,” but at least they were kept out of the reach of the Indians. “My nephew kept the men together and pacified the Indians with assistance of a rumor that I was appointed governor. I had a long talk with the Chiefs when I arrived. They went away in good humor, but it discouraged our People. I find I have neither power nor means to protect them.” Turnbull again criticized Moultrie, and pleaded with Sir William to go directly to Lord Hillsborough to use his influence to have Turnbull named lieutenant governor. Were he to hold that office he would be able to provide protection for Smyrnéa. He threatened to leave East Florida if he did not receive the appointment. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan Smyrnéa, May 25, 1771 Turnbull reported that he had been bothered by fatigue, that he was having trouble sleeping, that his eyes were bothering him, and that he not been able to complete the plantation's accounts without a clerk to help. He had recently lost his first clerk. He lamented that with all he had undergone at Smyrnéa he would not go through it again. It had caused him to suffer in health and strength. He threatened that if he wasn't “put on a better footing I will leave the province. I will never live in a Province where my Services are look't upon in the light Governor Grant has look't on mine.” It was Turnbull's opinion that affairs with the Creek Indians were at the brink of ruin because Governor Grant obstinately refused to meet with the chiefs. He warned that he will never live under Grant again if he was unwilling to keep the province safe by going twenty miles to hold a Congress with the Creek chiefs. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan Smyrnéa, May 25, 1771 It was again necessary to order supplies from Thomas Nixon. Fifty barrels of pork, three hundred bushels of salt were ordered last month, but there was also an immediate to order need for one thousand yards of oznaburgh cloth to make frocks and trousers for the laborers. About the £1000 owed to Mr. John Murray, a debt contracted in 1767 while laborers were being recruited in the Mediterranean, Turnbull reminded Duncan that he had explained the debt early in 1768. The partners had agreed then to pay off the loan with cash, rather than to eliminate the debt by supplying Murray with indentured laborers in numbers equal to the amount of money provided. Morale would have suffered if some of the group had been separated. Since the debt had not yet been paid, Turnbull offered to “take it upon myself to pay this bill out of my own share of income.” Turnbull complained that he had lost the sight in one eye, which had kept him from completing work on the accounts. He had been advised by Mr. Nixon to dictate to an English clerk a few hours a week, but he could not spare the time: “I have sometime fallen off the logg I have been sitting on for chairs, we had none then, so oppressed I have been with fatigue and [lack of] sleep; six hours in twenty-four is the most rest I ever take....I would not undergo [the hard times] again for all the money it has cost, nor indeed could I go through it a second time, the first has been too severe a grinding....My health and spirits bore it. I flagg now in both, and if I am not put on a better footing in this province than I am at the moment, I must leave the management of this Affair to other hands.” Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan Smyrnéa, May 27, 1771 Turnbull enclosed a copy of a sixteen-page letter he wrote to Governor Grant. It was surprisingly accusatory. He complained that Creek Indians had terrorized his settlers, but that the acting governor, John Moultrie, had refused to send a reinforcement of five soldiers needed at Smyrnéa. Moultrie, because he hindered Turnbull's efforts and diminished his enthusiasm for the colony, “threatens to break the back of this settlement.” Turnbull claimed that the Secretary of State favored him for the lieutenant governor appointment, but that Grant “had it set aside, which hurts me and hurts my People. Had I succeeded the Indians would have been pleased and friendly. My People are trustworthy, and it would have been easy for me to have been in St. Augustine to tend to business of government for ten days or a fortnight every month.” He charged that Moultrie provided fewer services for the province than Turnbull and that he brought fewer Negroes into East Florida. There were more “black Guinea folks here” at Smyrnéa than at all of Moultrie's East Florida estates. He further denounced Moultrie as a lazy planter, lacking in energy and innovative spirit. Turnbull said he wanted “to be governor if [Governor Grant was appointed] to a better position,” and that he deserved the honor since he was superior to Moultrie in ability, diligence, and success. Had he “not brought my People here, East Florida would still be a desert.” Then he threatened to take the laborers to another province: “They acknowledge no other Master but me.” The story told in a previous letter about a war party of Indians at his plantation brandishing scalping knives and terrorizing the settlers was repeated with the pronouncement that it provided evidence that he deserved to be the next governor of East Florida. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to James Grant Smyrnea on Hillsborough River, May 27, 1771 “I troubled you with a letter about the Indian affair in agitation when you left this province. I had not sufficient information when I wrote that letter to speak with certainty of the particulars of that affair. They are come to my knowledge since. I shall therefore mention that the manner these Indians seized some people belonging to this place was so alarming and their messages so threatening that my family with other women were obliged to fly from hence at midnight in an open boat. Most of the farmer's wives with their children hid themselves among the mangrove islands on this river. The men were hindered with difficulty from going away, and when the alarm was over, the women were look't for, found, and brought back. I have been using my utmost endeavors since to make them get over the dread of the scalping knives or a roasting on the fire, as is sometimes the treatment captives meet with among Indians, but I find that their dread still hangs over them for they now employ all their leisure time in cutting out canoes to carry their families out of the reach of Indians in case of an attack which may be apprehended for I have discovered on enquiring into the late affair, that the intentions of these Indians were hostile to us, which from their former intimations and threatening I found to proceed from their being displeased because you had not met the Chiefs of this nation for almost four years to give them presents, which they expect yearly, from your having told them, Sir, at the first congress, that you would meet them often to keep up a friendship with them; and to give them the presents which the Great King sends them. “The Creek Indians have been out of humour for some time past about this affair, which many of them have often spoke of. From these and other murmurings, I conjectured when I heard of that Indian party, that their intentions were not favorable to us, which proved to be so from their own declarations at my cowpenn. I seemed, however, to give credit to what they told me afterwards was the reason of that armament, it being intended as they pretended against a Spanish and Yamisae settlement on Cape Florida where no such settlement, nor any other, exists, nor did they go farther than this place to look for it. This was the excuse they made after I had found means to make them lay aside their first intentions which they before declared were against this settlement and that it was on the account that they were without horses, women, and children; as is their custom of marching when in war. Besides the Chiefs refused for some days the several invitations made them to come to this place nor would they have come at all in a friendly manner if John Stewart, a cattle hunter, had not told them that I was appointed to govern the province, and that I was on my way from St. Augustine to meet the chief to have friendly talk with them. This made them imagine that I would bring presents for them such as Governors generally give, which brought them to better temper, and they came to me “This incident, Sir, besides other things which happen daily, convince me that it would be of importance for the protection and safety of this small colony who, being foreigners, are suspected by Indians not to be English....[Turnbull says he suspects that he would be held in high regard by the Indians, and also in high esteem by “his People” were he to be appointed lieutenant governor, showing his] influence in the province or to let his people see that he has power to protect them the worst of which I feel much at present. When you governed the province, Sir, I was sure of being speedily assisted on every emergency. I do not know another man in whom I have the same confidence and am now without any certainty of assistance if wanted, for I wrote last week both Lieutenant Governor to desire that the party of soldiers there might be reinforced with five men to make up a secure command of a corporal and twelve men, not for any great help such a small number could give us, but to convince the Indians that we are under the care of government, which they seem to doubt. I was answered that they could not be spared at present. “This, Sir, is sufficient to convince me that any requisition I make will not be readily granted, for this of five men only was made after the arrival of the post, which brought advice from Lord Hillsborough that our disputes with Spain were made up, so that an unexpected call for troops on that account could not be alleged as an excuse for this refusal. “This, Sir, is one instance of many I could give, that your preferring Major Moultrie to me has lessened my influence much and it has already smote a drawback on my endeavors to get on that it will go right to break my spirit of colonizing and threatens to break the back of this settlement. I was pointed out by the Secretary of State to succeed you, Sir, as Lieutenant Governor, a letter of good authority tells me as much, your having stained the setting aside of these intentions has raised a suspicion against me that I am not well with government at home. This hurts me in my own mind, hurts me in the minds of my people, and has hurt my character so much that it will probably oblige me to give up all the advantages I have been struggling for. It would have been the reverse of this, Sir, if I had succeeded you in the Government of the province as the direction of assistance, when wanted, would then have been greatly in my own hands which would have influenced the Indians to have had a due respect for this settlements from the high light they regard a Governor in and the respect they have for every person or possession belonging to him; his having presents also to be disposed of among them as he thinks proper gives him every advantage of this native for the most savage Indian reveres the hand which feeds and clothes him. “With these advantages, Sir, I would have trusted my family here which is the best argument I could have made use of to convince my people that they have nothing to fear. And as to myself, I could have easily done the business of government by being ten days or a fortnight in town every month in the summer, and by residing there in the winter, when business is generally done, which indeed is yet so little that an active man might easily go through it in two days of every month. And as to the leisure since a governor might have, he certainly will employ it better that in forwarding such settlements as this; the conducting and managing of which you think, sir, requires my continued attendance and constant residence here. That opinion you never mentioned to me, Sir, to remove my family from St. Augustine, it was not for that reason, but that I and my family might be out of the disagreeable rebound as you termed it, of some bills then expected back in protest, which, however, did not happen. It could not be imagined at that time that it was necessary for me to reside in this place as I had then managed the affairs here for one year, which was from August 1768 when the mutiny was raised here, till August 1769, tho' I was in St. Augustine the greatest part of these two last months to purchase provisions for the people here. This was the first year also when things were not brought to that family regularity they are in at present with the help I have now. My reason for mentioning this, Sir, is that when I saw you last you was so strong in this opinion that you could hardly bear to be contradicted. I therefore dropped the dispute but I am apprehensive that without my consent or a sufficient knowledge of my mode of conducting this settlement, it has been given as an opinion and has been the cause of my being set aside....” James Grant Papers John Moultrie to Major Alexander Mackenzie St. Augustine, June 6, 1771 “Doctor Turnbull, this day represented to me in council that a considerable body of armed Indians had lately appeared at Smyrnea, his settlement on the Musquito [River], and that a party of their young men had been irregular and beat some of his people and that they had very much alarmed and terrified the rest. “Altho' I have not the least apprehension of their intention to commit any act of hostility, but am clearly of opinion that their nation are on the best terms with us; I think it would be doing that valuable young settlement an essential service to strengthen the detachment of the 31st regiment now posted there. They would [demand] respect from any hunting or other parties of Indians passing that way and prevent irregularities which might otherwise happen, and would also tend to quiet the minds of the affrighted settlers and give them confidence. “With the advice of his majesty's council [I] must therefore request, that you would as soon as possible reinforce the present small detachment now at Smyrnea with twelve men, they will make up the smallest number I think that ought to be there.” James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to James Grant St. Augustine, June 7, 1771 “I shall be glad to resign being Secretary of this province in favour of Mr. David Yeats, who, I imagine, Sir, you will be as glad to serve in this affair as I am. I beg, however, that I may not be understood to resign except Mr. Yeats is appointed to that office.” . . . James Grant Papers\ John Moultrie to James Grant “I rejoiced to hear by the return of the Parson and Yates [Dr. David Yeats] that your usual good fortune in making voyages attended you in your passage to Charlestown and I hope it has also attended you over the great water and that by this time all intestine tumults in your body corporate are entirely quelled at least and that you are well and happy, if not ten years younger. I was soon put out of suspense concerning my appointment as I received the Earl of Hillsborough's letter in a few days after your departure. Thank you my dear Governor. “Two or three days after your departure I was waited on by Stone, Bachop, Wilson, Nash and Kiss as a committee from the inhabitants, they said, to know when I would see an address from them which they had prepared. I declined their compliment as I had found out that the purpose of it was more to abuse you than be civil to me. This made them very angry, and made me laugh. They talked of remonstrations and petitions to the King like other people. They sent their intended address to Charles Town to be printed, your old friend Timothy did it, Crouch and Wells would not. I suppose by this time you may have seen it, with the respectable names affixed of Edmond Grey, Thomas Stone, William Collins, Bachop, and Wilson. These were their file leaders the rest followed in silence; some of the ragamuffins and poor devils were taken in as they imagined it was entirely a compliment to me. They would think we are getting on apace when poor rogues begin to turn fancy. “These people made me smile, but our friend Doctor Turnbull did not, You and I have seen him at times more than a little inconsistent with all his cleverness. You may remember he went out of town two or three days before your departure, full of the horrors on account of the Indian alarm at Smyrnea; neither you nor my self believed a tenth part of the story, and were clearly of opinion that the Indians did not intend the least act of hostility. In a few days I received from the Doctor a letter (of which I enclose you a copy) confirming our opinion and declaring his satisfaction at the good conduct and friendly behavior of those Indians. I was glad to find the Doctor so well satisfied and that he had no foundation for his fears. The post was just sailing out, I was glad of that early opportunity to acquaint the minister of the affair that it might cancel any false account he might hear by common fame. I was happy in my belief that the affair was over and laid it aside as finished, but I was mistaken for the Doctor came to town on the King's birthday (for which I gave him a very good drink) full of the horrors again....He imagined that the Indians intended his settlement harm, and appeared exceedingly uneasy. I begged to know the grounds of his uneasiness. He showed me an affidavit which he had made black Stewart his cattle hunter make before Bisset, the [essence] of which was: The Indians on their first coming to that place asked for the Doctors lawyers and said that they were Spaniards, and that the whole people there were Spaniards; he told them that they were not, but were Greek and Italians, the Indians said he was a bold man for saying so and that he was safe for the sake of the beloved man, but did not know how long he would be so. I asked the Doctor what Stewart meant by their connecting him with the beloved man [Indian Superintendent John Stuart] his answer was that Stewart told him that they took him for the superintendent's brother as he had the same name and that they had often seen him with the superintendent when he was among them. This you know as well as I do, to be vanity and a lie. The fellow was a soldier in the royal till he came to this place from Havannah, has been here ever since and does not understand a word of the Indian language. I told the Doctor this and he began to be a little ashamed of this evidence if it was falsely swore to, in one part it might be and probably was so on the whole. “Notwithstanding all I could say the Doctor was not satisfied, tho' he had not the least reason to be otherwise. I therefore (as he was very desirous of it) called a council and laid the matter before them. He was more moderate there in his fears and expectations. Before nothing would satisfy him but an immediate congress and a requisition of a strong reinforcement of the detachment of he 31st to cover his settlement. Now he only pressed for the troops and lightly touched on the congress; as to the congress you know I have many good reason for not promising to call one [since] the £1500 formerly given for Indian expenses this year is cut off. It would be but a bad specimen of my first transactions in office to think of expending a thousand pounds slap dash without having any real good reason for so doing or before I had well digested the measure. I leave you to find out any other good reasons which you easily can. “The chief Justice backed the doctor strongly for the congress. On the whole, as he and his people were much alarmed I agreed to request of major McKenzie (notwithstanding I had no desire to interfere with the military) that he would reinforce the party already there with more men; which he refused. I send you a copy of his and my letters. His refusal at this time will be productive of no bad consequences, but if there is serious danger I am to apply to General Gage which will take three mouths to do and get an answer. I may as well let it alone…. “The Doctor sometimes talked of removing with his whole people to some island where they might be in safety if they were not protected by government troops. If he alone can remove them and if he can to what island would be good and who would be glad to take them. He has partners that have advanced many thousands; government has assisted them with thousands; the people have already undergone all the dangers and hardships of first settlers; he cannot carry them away when he pleases without their consent. They must not have less here than in every other British government, taste some of the sweets of a constitution that even to slaves gives some freedom. “He says he must go home next winter, as one of his partners was dead, to make a new vision of property, and that if they do not divide to make them supply him better for they had done it badly. What other two partners could he have matched with that would have done it so well? If they divide he says the whole people are his property and that they will only have a proportion of the lands and produce. One minute he talks of stopping the building of the peoples houses and that he has done it, the next he talks of sending immediately a body of shingle makers up the Tomoka River to make shingles. If you talk of the Musquito road he is as keen about it as you have ever seen him and you know he was not backward, this does not look like moving. I could see but I would not see it that he was disappointed in it, he cannot help feel my a little uneasy and I must allow for that you know I always had and still have a great and sincere regard for him and his family and his uneasiness makes me also feel. He is gone home more pacified, I hope, and I am sure that with time and a little reflection he will clear himself and put him into his usual easy and cheerful way again which will please me much. “Notwithstanding all this fuss you may depend upon it that I have never seen a time when we had less to fear from Indians than now...[Since] the time you went away they have brought in Caudry's and Levetts negroes whom it was thought they had carried into the nation but they were taken in the woods, by some hunting Indians and brought in. Spalding, who you know to be a scary devil, has just come from Latchaway, where he was with the Cowkeeper since his return from his scout, who told him exactly the same story of the Indians being at the Doctor's that you heard before you went away and that the Doctor has given such different accounts which the secretary of state will see. I thought I ought in justice to myself show any inconsistency, I have therefore sent a copy of his letter and said a little of the affair in my letter to the minister. You may have an opportunity of saying more on the matter of Indian [affairs]. I think it out of character and owing to the character of the secretary of state to trouble him with too long a letter about an affair that is in some measure private between the doctor and myself. . . . “The parson, Drayton, Mulcaster, Doctor, Owen, Skinner and I will write of Augustine miscellaneous occurrences.” James Grant Papers Frederick George Mulcaster to James Grant St. Augustine, June 11, 1771 . . . “Dr. Turnbull has been in town, not well pleased, rather disappointed at missing the Lieutenant Governor [appointment]. He wants a congress, the Indians having a real intention upon his settlement had not John Stewart, who they once before had thought was the Superintendent [of Indian affairs for the Southern District of North America], assured them they were not Spaniards. Stewart has left his service saying that he is sure the Indians intend mischief to that settlement. The King who had sent them all away came to Augustine but finding himself taken no notice of, nor having anything given him farther than a little rice, was displeased and said he does not know if there is a white man in the province. This is the Dr's account. He talks continually of going to England about November. The Major [John Moultrie] did not take notice of the King as I think he should have. Dr. Turnbull having wrote to Major Moultrie that it was owing to him that they had gone away as they did, recommending him to notice in consequence of his having behaved so exceedingly well. . . . “We had a long drought after you went away. Grant's Villa began to have a yellow cast, but we have had some rain and it is recovering. Skinner says he expects to cut [indigo weed] the latter end of the month. The southern crackers [planters] have great expectations, fine refreshing showers and everything looks well. They have again had rains but they came not to the North River. I came from Mr. Drayton's plantation two days ago, we were wet to the skin. His indigo looks very well, above a foot high, his corn not so well....” James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to James Grant St. Augustine, June 13, 1771 “I gave them Governor Grant's talk and told them, by his desire, that he was going to see the great King, but would return soon. That in the mean time there was another Governor at St. Augustine, who would be glad to See this head Man. Bryant accompanies him to St. Augustine. The Upper Creek Chief is a sober manly Indian, and seemed to be very watchful over the others for fear they should do any thing wrong, he staid here till all of them went away, as he saw that they were drunk. The Long Warrior returned to this place today to beg a Calf for his People. I gave him one, and would rather give two at any time, than they should take one without leave. “As the party here of the 31st Reg. consists of a Sergeant and eight men only, I should be glad of a reinforcement, not so much for the protection a small number can give us, as for the appearance of our being under the care of Government which these Indians seemed at first to doubt. Addressed to His Excellency Governor Grant or in his Absence to the Lieutenant Governor Colonial Office Papers David Yeats to James Grant St. Augustine, August 31, 1771 “Since my last of the 2nd of July, we have had an almost continual drought, which has hurt the indigo planters much and nearly destroyed the rice. Mr. Drayton from double the quantity of land planted won't make so much rice as last year. Grant's Villa has suffered very considerable by it. The first cutting was finished some time ago, and according to Mr. Skinner's computation amounts to between six and seven hundred weight, the second I am afraid from the appearance of the weed won't yield much more. I saw it two days ago when they were beginning the second cutting, which would have been finished by this time had the season been favorable, for they delayed cutting in hopes of rain, and now are obliged to go on as the season advances fast in expectation of a third. The pond in the North field which used to supply two vats a day for sometime past has hardly been hardly been sufficient for one, tho' deepened four feet, a proof of the remarkable dryness of the season. They average considerably more a vat than last year, by means of steeping a little longer and adding a large proportion of lime water. Doctor Turnbull was the first to fall into this way. They have all followed his example and find it answers. “The Doctor [Turnbull] in his letter to me of he 25Th July gives the following account of his settlement. ‘My first cutting has given me three thousand weight of much better indigo on the whole than last year's assortment. I think I shall go to above three thousand Guineas with this crop, and almost all from the old weed. This year's planting was blasted in May, the drought has hindered me from establishing it as yet. Our appearances of provisions are of plenty and out of danger as the corn is almost all turned down. I have averaged ten pounds a vat the first cutting. I expect to do more the second and third.' “Since I received the above letter the Doctor has gone thro' his second cutting which has given him four thousand weight. He expected six, would have made it had it not been for the remarkable dry weather. He has tried how far lime water may be carried in indigo making and has found that by liming very high that twenty-five weight a vat may be made which is the utmost, but then the indigo is poor stuff.” The remainder of this letter concerns the provisions crop at Grant's Villa, and news of activities of the slaves employed there. Also included is general news of planting at estates in the province, and political news and gossip concerning William Collins, William Wilson, William Drayton, Francis Levett, Denys Rolle, and the arrival of Francis P. Fatio from London. James Grant Papers Frederick George Mulcaster to James Grant St. Augustine, October 2, 1771 . . . “....Dr. Turnbull is in town. He has lost his third cutting by the worm, such havock I never saw by so insignificant a reptile, he has, however, in his store house eight thousand weight of indigo and as the rains have just now set in he hopes still to have another cutting. The North River will also benefit by it for rain and Grants Villa have been great strangers to each other for some time. I had wrote you a long letter of its situation when I last saw it, but the account was so dreary that I took Owen's advice and threw it into the fire....” James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to James Grant Smyrnea, October 28, 1771 “I have the honor of your letter of the 17th of July. I am glad that you had such a good passage. Your taking so much trouble, Sir, about the affairs of the settlement and mine is another instance added to many of your friendship, for which I heartily thank you. My last letter you will recall, was not in such civil terms. I acknowledge it and am sorry that the situation I was then in, and not yet out of, made me angry and uneasy. The seeing myself, family, and people in danger from Indians and every kind of assistance or protection denied, without the satisfaction of having the least notice taken of it by the lieutenant Governor, notwithstanding my repeated solicitations, was alarming and threatened the bad consequences which are like to arise from your having obtained the government of this province for Mr. Moultrie. These apprehensions are not yet removed. “The Indians become more indolent every day, he [lt. gov. John Moultrie] more indolent in that business. They kill, and drive off my cattle into their own country. One Ohitchie carried off twenty head lately, and had drove thirty more as far as St. Johns, when some hunters sent after him obliged him to deliver them up. Tho' the damage they have done to this settlement is already considerable, it is as nothing to the damp it has thrown on the spirits of the settlers here, who see the labors of their hands distributed to idle insolent savages. I have between twenty and thirty of them on me at present. They pretend the country is full of water, and that they cannot hunt. I have repeatedly represented all this to Mr. Moultrie, but as no regard is paid to any requisition I make, I shift on as well as I can, till I hear from Sir William Duncan to whom I have made my situation known. If his answers do not come soon, or if they are not satisfactory, I must continue to pursue my resolution of coming to England to beg a protection form the Minister for America. I can foresee that I risk all by delaying; a little more of Indian insolence and this settlement will break up of itself which however I will endeavor to prevent as long as I can. “I intended to have carried my family to St. Augustine this winter, if the party quarrels there had not detained me. Drayton has resigned his seat in council, and it is with difficulty that three or four of that body can be brought together to do the very little business that there is to be done. Three only of them carried the address to the lieutenant Governor on his receiving his commission. I was not in town to make a fourth. Whatever objections I may have to the man who governs, I shall be cautious not to act against government. “Mr. Yeats will have acquainted you that I intend to resign the office of secretary in his favor, of it can be done. But if it cannot be done for him, it may be deferred till I have the honor of seeing you, tho' I confess that I will not hold it any longer. It is not worth my while for a miserable fifty pounds a year to lay myself under an obligation to a lieutenant governor for his allowing me to act by Deputy. “Sir William Duncan's coming out [to East Florida] is rather premature, but I am glad of it and will give me an opportunity of coming to London, and staying there some time to solicit my business. Let him lose an eye as I have done by the glare of white sand. He has forgot that I acquainted him of Mr. Murray's affair and asked his advice about it in a letter from Gibraltar. He may have lost that letter, but I have not lost his answer to it in which he particularly advises me what to do in that business. The clamor about my accounts is ungenerous and which I will regret if we do not hit it off better than we are like to do. By the last article in our last contract they are obliged to send out a clerk to their mind and at their expense in case I am prevented in doing that work by business, sickness or any other impediment. Almost every letter tells them that the nature of the direction here prevents me from sitting down to keep books of accounts to which if I had attended properly I should now have been in London with these books to show that the money was gone and the people either starved or despaired for want of being prompted to raise provisions for themselves. If the man Cutter had not been maimed in the mutiny, everything of that nature would have been in counting house order. He was hired at 100 Sterling a year for that purpose. My accounts, however, are in good order, for I was always very careful of the receipts and as my accounts have always been open and with people of credit, everything may be easily cleared up. “I am glad our indigo sold so well. I see that yours bore the bell. That was as it should be. The large package hurt the sale of mine. I made 8000 weight this year before the latter end of August, and had plants in the field for four thousand more, when millions of caterpillars appeared and did not leave me a green leaf, with only a part of the stalk. The bark of the stumps being also ground, they appeared dead for nigh a month, then shot out and when about six inches high was once more devoured by a new hoard of that destructive worm. By dint of labor night and day I cut about 89 vats of that short weed before the worms got to it and shall have about 9000 Sterling in all. Doses of fire, smoking, killing, and many more other things were tried to destroy them, but all in vain. Some other plantations in this part have them now, yet had them not before. Mrs. Turnbull desires her respects to your Excellency.” . . . James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to James Grant Smyrnéa, November 26, 1771 “The conditions on which I choose to resign the office of secretary are that you engage to Mr. Roberts or me to give him one hundred a year during his or your natural life, or during mine if he insists on continuing his first contract, also that you engage to give me fifty pounds sterling a year during my natural life or yours, this last to cease if I can obtain any post or place in government of more Emolument and genn [sic] than the secretaryship.” James Grant Papers John Moultrie to James Grant St. Augustine, December 4, 1771 Acting Governor Moultrie informed Governor Grant about the dissension existing in St. Augustine, and about various routine matters regarding administration of the province. He also informed Grant that Chief Justice William Drayton had resigned his seat on the Royal Council, and that following Drayton's resignation, Dr. Andrew Turnbull had also submitted a resignation letter. James Grant Papers Frederick George Mulcaster to James Grant St. Augustine, January 2, 1772 Mulcaster's letter was seven pages long and filled with observations on crops, politics, and gossip. He also included commentary specifically pertinent to the visit of Cowkeeper and the Seminole warriors that Turnbull claimed to have been a great menace to his settlement. . . . “I hear John Ross has wrote to Mr. Elliot in high terms about the Indians making great complaints. If you and Dr. Turnbull are not friends their complaints may be heightened. I heard therefore, whereupon Mr. Johns made some enquiry of old Bryan who was at Spalding's upper store where they passed in their way to Smyrna painted and dressed for war. The Cowkeeper told him they were going against a settlement formed by the Yamasee Indians and Spaniards from the Havanna that their information was from one Soapqui a brother-in-law of his own and therefore could be depended upon, that he, Bryan, endeavoured to dissuade them from the attempt by telling them the settlement belonged to the English and subjects of the Great King. The Cowkeeper wanted Bryan to go with them, but Bryan could not leave the store there being no person to take care of it. That upon the Indian's return he asked them if what he said was not true, the Cowkeeper readily answered it was, that they had seen Dr. Turnbull whom he called King of Musquito, whom they liked extremely, that they had been well treated with wine and provisions, and that the Indian Soapqui was a lying rascal and had imposed upon them that they were perfectly content and should not any more molest them. “Bryan says they are also pleased with the Lieut. Gov., and also, James Bryan, who was the interpreter says they had reason to be so for that Mr. Moultrie had given them plenty of everything. Old Sehikai is the only one who speaks against the Leiut. Gov. He says he's not like the former one, and that you have only left him to take care of your house till you return from your visit to the Great King, but this is only conversation between Sehikai and Bryan. Bryan says he's an excellent fellow in the woods and advises me to take him with me, which I believe I shall do as land seems to be wanted, and he knows the country to the southward thoroughly. He is the same that went with Mr. DeBrahm. DeBrahm and he did not agree very well, but that was owing to Mr. DeBrahm treating him like a Negro and never letting him eat with him. Which the Indian was not pleased with, and I think with some reason. “I have also enquired what the Indians are about now. Bryan assures me that the warriors are all going to search the Okofornoquo [Okefenokee?] Swamp as some of their people have told them there is a set of Indians inhabit that place. This has been an old story and long believed by them, but that they are now going out to that place you may depend on. Another reason and a stronger one which will prevent their hurting our settlements at present (even if they were inclined) is that they are at war with the Choctaws and altho' they have offered peace, the Choctaws are so inveterate that they will not hear if it. This little information I made my business to get as Ross's letter might create some altercation upon that subject.” . . . James Grant Papers Frederick George Mulcaster to James Grant Smyrna, February 13, 1772 “I am this far on my way to the Southward, and should have been almost as far on my return, but that the sugar cane is got so much in vogue this way everyone is mad for lands this way, therefore the purchase of a new boat the better to explore the unknown parts between hence and the Cape has detained me till now. “Woolridge has given me two tracts of 20,000 each, for Lord Dartmouth and his eldest son, Lord Lewisham, and a 10,000 for a Mr. Davison, he has also two more of 20,000 each for the younger sons of Lord Dartmouth, which he keeps till I return. Alexander Gray has two of ten for persons in England, besides several others for people in the province. “Dr. Turnbull sailed the 20th of last month, I wish he may make matters answer. I find his partners objected to his leaving Florida, and his best friend Sir William [Duncan] will be around on his arrival. Mr. Nelson [Archibald Neilson] to inspect the accounts is arrived and is now here, Sir William recommended him to Gordon, and takes his advice in everything, fortunately he is a very modest well meaning man, and Gordon from the civilities his wife received from the Doctor, has recommended it to Nelson not to interfere till he hears from England or till Capt. [Adam] Duncan [Sir William's nephew] arrives, who is soon expected, but I hope the Dr. will get time enough to England to come back with [Captain Duncan] himself. Mr. Nelson [Neilson] told me that the dispute between you and the Dr. was known in London and that he was much condemned for everyone knew the service you had been to the settlement. I told him I was sorry if it had happened, but as I had often heard you express sincere regard for Mr. Turnbull, I flattered myself you would overlook what was passed and impute to a hastiness which you knew was a foible he possessed, that I believed the Dr. repented of it already, and if it had not been for an advisor it would probably have not happened. “The weed [indigo] here looks very indifferent a great deal of it dead. They are busy in the back swamp, which undoubtedly is the best of his land. The River Hammock is very light [or high] and the experienced planters think it will meet the fate of the old field of Mr. Oswald which they have laid up as wore out, but this the approaching season will soon clear. . . . “Seacoffi and about a dozen Indians have been hunting hereabouts, they behave well and bring in venison to the settlement. Sehaiki was with them, but his wife having [scoffed?] him, he is in pursuit of the offender and if he overtakes him before he reaches [Barnet?] he will make him the shorter by a scalp, he has already punished the wife by cutting of her ears, this [gentling?] I would call rather a particular than a general method of chastizing women for incontinency.” . . . James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan London, April 6, 1772 Turnbull arrived in London at the beginning of March in 1772. The 1771 indigo had been sold by then at public sale by Mr. Nixon, for £3,000 Sterling. He stated that provision crops at Smyrnéa had been planted and were almost ready to eat, and he predicted the crops would clear a thousand guineas at least for Mr. Duncan's share, which sum will “rise considerably every year and I intended to have continued to manage it until the net return, clear of every expense and deduction, got up to ten thousand guineas yearly. I then resolved giving it into the hands of the proprietors....[but] that prospect now vanishes, for the drawbacks and expenses put on me by Governor Grant and the Lt. Governor will soon oblige me to leave management, which I am to carry on with such opposition and disagreeable circumstances staring me in the face as can be thrown in my way by People, who are now convinced that my success and reputation lowers theirs.” In Turnbull's estimation, Lord Hillsborough had removed “some abuses” of Grant's administration, but after several meetings with Hillsborough to complain about Grant and to request a “face to face” meeting during which he intended “to acquaint him with more than I choose to say behind his back,” Turnbull learned “that I am to expect nothing but through the governor or lieutenant governor. I am therefore resolved to leave the settlement at Smyrnéa, and to take the people belonging to me into another Province.” Turnbull was angry that Duncan had not shown a letter to Hillsborough that he had written to Grant. “If Grant had not felt the truth of all I reproached him with and of sincere truths which I have told him of since, he would not have been so passive...[and] to seem to court me but I can see through the thin veil of his Duplicity, and am not the Dupe of it. You will say that I entered warmly into this affair, which it is my duty to do, as it is in endeavoring to save a settlement risked by his neglect in the conduct of his government. This isn't the only allegation I could bring against him, but I go no farther. The consequence of all this and of you not taking the trouble to [talk to Hillsborough] by which you would have saved a thousand a year to the settlement, and ensured the management of it...in my hands, that it would have got on very fast, besides the advantages which would have accrued to me. [This] has made me resolve to hasten back to put everything in order for a separation, which I'll come here to affect the latter part of next year.” Turnbull then threatened to take the indentured laborers “belonging to me to another province” where they would not be endangered by threats from Indians. Through his personal “interest and management” he pledged to keep the workers safe and secure until the move takes place, and therefore, at the advice of his attorney, he called for a meeting in London with Duncan and the trustees of George Grenville's estate to make arrangements to dissolve the partnership and divide the land and personal property. He complained again that Duncan might have “obtained the governorship of the province for me, I mean [Lieutenant] Governor, if you had asked for it, for Lord Hillsborough told me he wanted to do you a service but as you didn't ask him he gave in to Grant's solicitation.” But he hastened to assure Duncan that he would not do harm to his partners: “carrying my own people away will be done with as much regard for your interest as possible. I mean only to secure myself not to hurt you. Nothing can ever induce me to any meanness of that kind...” “...I intended to build a good dwelling house on the settlement but shall not now. I can make a shift with this. I am in [the management] for one year more therefore shall not make any preparation for one [dwelling house], except it is at your particular desire, and at your expense and for your conveniency. I shall put a stop also to all other buildings which are not immediately necessary. After separation, every man may build on his own plan.” [This disorganized and repetitive letter closed with information concerning the Smyrnéa settlement.] “We have double the number of acres in cultivation of Indigo than last year....The amount of money spent in the culture of indigo in East Florida [thus far] amounts to £120,000 and that last year's crop of dye was 20,000 weight or but little less, of which we had [at Smyrnéa] above 9,000 so that notwithstanding the disadvantages we labored under, our 30,000 has done as much as the 90,000 employed by other hands. [This constitutes] proof and display of superior economy and abilities in the management of our affairs. The Smyrnea settlement would have always kept this superiority at every point if I had been properly protected and supported by government....” Turnbull again threatened to leave East Florida, taking his “chagrin” to another country, in accordance with a plan proposed to him the previous day. He closed the letter with a complaint that he had not heard from Duncan “since the beginning of June last.” Two days later, on April 8th, an addendum was penned. “I've been with Lord Hillsborough [and] think he is inclined to do you and the settlement a service....If you ask, he will appoint me the governor of the province if and when Grant gives it up.” He admitted that he had not been authorized by Lord Hillsborough to publicize this information, but assured Duncan that if he asked for this favor and obtained it, “this will certainly encourage me to stay in the Province of East Florida because I then could protect our People and make the Settlement thrive in the manner I wish and which I cannot do otherwise...” He assured Duncan that he had always had more than his own interest at heart, but warned that if the governorship could not be arranged for him, he was resolved to leave the province. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan London, April 10, 1772 Turnbull proposed to defer the meeting to divide the settlement among the partners to April 1774. In the meantime he pledged to “continue to exert myself in carrying on the Settlement, and shall conceal my intentions of leaving it until we have settled all our affairs, and finally agreed on the mode of separation.” [Emphasis added] A separation is made obligatory by many circumstances, “the chief of which are the being exposed to Expenses and even Insults from Indians, on account of Governor Grant's having neglected to cultivate their friendship so far for me and the settlement, that it would be difficult for an Enemy to stir them up against me.” He thought he ought not run even a slight risk at the settlement, “which ought to be protected and assisted by government instead of endeavors from the governor of the Province to keep me back. Grant smooths me over as much as he can, but shuns a quarrel with a man who he sees is hurt by the injuries he has done to the Greek Settlement and who, he sees, has every inclination to resist it.” Lord Hillsborough, however, “seems desirous of assisting all you are concerned in, but thinks it would be troublesome to decide between Grant and me. I decline giving too much trouble” and therefore will not push the appointment further. Instead, Turnbull said he would prepare to leave management of the settlement as soon as it could be done with profit and in the process show everyone that “my own influence with the Indians in the Province is superior to any other in it” and that he could even “make a governor very uneasy in his government.” Turnbull said that he could have sold indigo for six hundred guineas more in Charles Town than it sold for in London. “I found that everything I did was suspected and did not dispose of it for which I am now sorry as it is sold, by the manners of the brokers, at a low price. The city people are great dupes to these Israelites. I pointed out the opening they continued for the Deceit. Mr. Oswald tells me that he is some hundreds out of pocket this year. His crop does not pay his expenses. Our settlement has done much more than any other except Governor Grants, which is not a fair rival, public services drive on such private affairs very fast.” Dundee City Archive William Drayton to James Grant April 10, 1772 “The Doctor is a warm man, and I believe his passions were a little irritated at this time by an application he made thro' Mr. Moultrie for an addition to the party of men station'd at Smyrnea, which he thought was not sufficiently or vigorously back'd by Mr. Moultrie, and therefore fail'd of effect. And this was directly after the alarm to his settlement by the Indians. As for his application for the government, I never heard or suspected it. He certainly could not mean that it should be taken from you and given to him. His thought must only be what others have thought, that you would not return to this place but exchange it for some other, which would give you a better opportunity of enjoying yourself and friends at home. In that case perhaps he meant to be early in application. At any rate I hope matters may be reconcil'd between you on talking them over together. It wold add greatly to the affliction I felt for you absence, that it had made a breach likewise between you and the Doctor, who had liv'd upon the best and most amicable terms when you were together. But I flatter myself that a personal explanation will again make the path strait between you; and that I shall see you both here again in the former intimate footing.” . . . Drayton said much the same in a letter written to Grant on June 20, 1772. “I must repeat what I wrote in my last [letter], the concern it gives me that you and Dr. Turnbull are not upon intimate terms. The Doctor is an agreeable companion, his family are worthy and will feel the loss of such a friend as yourself. I wish I could by any means restore that cordiality, which formerly subsisted between you.” James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan London, April 16, 1772 “Mr. Ramsay delivered me your letter of the 20th of March yesterday. You mention a letter of last October by Mr. Neilson. I neither have received that letter nor was it possible for me to know that Mr. Neilson was sent out. As to the division of the lands and everything else, I have put it off till about this time two years, when I shall be in this place that the many writings necessary in such a complex business may be properly drawn up and executed. “You ought not to blame me for being anxious to get rid of connexions [sic] which, if they do not hurt me, they do me no good. This, however, is not the case, for that with Lord Temple hurts me much, and as to the connexion with you, Sir William, you cannot certainly say that it has been of service to me as an individual notwithstanding I assure you, Sir William, that I have your interest at heart as much as my own, and shall be glad of having an opportunity of promoting it as much after our division of lands, as at present. Tho' I am afraid it will not be much in my power as my present determinations are to not stay in the province of East Florida after the partnership, now subsisting, is dissolved. “You complain, Sir William, that I kept you ignorant of the state of the contracts I made with the people, I explained that affair more fully in a letter to you from Port Mahon, than it is explained even in the contracts, and I have explained it twice since in letters from Florida. I shall certainly lay the state of the settlement accounts before Mr. Ramsay, merely because you desire it, tho' this is never done to a person who has not an authority as an attorney. Such a power to Mr. Ramsay would have saved both him and me double labour, as what is done by him now can neither be use to you nor me. “I am obliged to you, Sir William, notwithstanding, for your choice of Mr. Ramsay I shall always be happy in doing business with him, for he seems to me to be a person of the greatest probity, and with a proper turn for such transactions. I have brought copies of the contracts with me, these and every paper which could be required are recorded in that office at St. Augustine. “I have letters from Smyrnéa of a fresh date. Everything goes on well there. Mr. Neilson arrived at St. Augustine the latter end of January. I can find from Lord Hillsborough, who I saw at this house this morning, that he is acquainted with some differences among the people of the council there. I am happy in not being of that number for since the Chief Justice is resigned there are many of the others who are not of a turn for business of that nature, nor is it an honour to be one of the number. “I have not been able to obtain anything to alleviate the expenses we are at for Indians, tho' a considerable of many is given yearly to the province for that purpose, all this ought to convince you, Sir William, that whatever happens to our settlement will not be my fault, but I do not apprehend much from Indians while I am in the province. I am pretty certain I can ward off every blow of that nature. “Your taking notes of every culture, Sir William, will be of consequence; the culture of silk, sugars, vines, barilla, and of all the different commercial productions of Spain may be of great use. The climate where you are at present is similar in many respects to ours. There is a very extensive field of improvement yet unattempted in America. I intended to have solicited a patent for making a vegetable cochineal and madder like indigo, which would be very considerable cultures, but must defer them now, as it would not be well to begin anything which could not be carried to perfection in the two years we are to be concerned together, nor shall I attempt then and in all probability afterwards, there is so little encouragement from government for anything of that nature, that it is not worthwhile of anybody to attempt them. I think that the culture of talents of importunity and attendance would have more merit here than now than more solid qualifications. I shall be glad to hear from you at your leisure, and I beg my respects to Lady Mary.” Dundee City Archive The Reverend John Forbes to James Grant May 13, 1772 “I have had the honour to receive your Excellency's kind letter of the 16th....I presume Mr. Penman has delivered to you a letter with heavy charges against the Doctor, who I hope by this time has come to his senses. I was greatly concerned for his obstinately bad usage of you. I regretted it for his own sake, well persuaded that you could feel his resentment in no other way than as coming from a man whom you had been at pains to serve, and whom you had reason to think your friend. The demand of the sloop is no doubt the most ungenerous, it was with reluctance that I mentioned it to you. To have been silent I thought myself unworthy of the many civilities and kind offices you have bestowed upon me. It is happy for the Doctor that your good sense will stifle little sallies of resentment, and that you will make large allowances, for his temper being ruffled and his head a little distracted with the disappointment, and perhaps with the situation with his private affairs. “Mr Nelson [Archibald Neilson] is a genteel modest young man who did not meddle in the least with the Doctor's affairs, seemed pleased with everything at Smyrnea, and made not the least of his being an inspecting agent, which we learned from Mr. Pownall's letter to Mr. Moultrie. He passed for the Doctor's clerk who was sent out to settle his accounts, he is now gone to Charleston with Mr. John Gordon. The Smyrnea settlement is in good order under the direction of the nephew [also Andrew Turnbull, Dr. Turnbull's nephew]....” James Grant Papers George Ramsay to the Earl of Temple London, June 20, 1772 Ramsay and Turnbull finished income and expense accounts related to the East Florida settlement and made an abstract of the results for the partners. Ramsay said Turnbull wanted to meet with the partners as soon as possible since he planned to depart for Florida June 30th. Ramsay cautioned that if a conference was not held before Turnbull left England, it would be a long time before they would have another chance to meet. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to Sir William Duncan London, June 30, 1772 Turnbull had met with Mr. Ramsay to show him the original vouchers from merchants, apparently to Ramsay's satisfaction. For the lesser expenses, however, Turnbull never asked for vouchers, but proclaimed that he had been “economical [while] cloathing and maintaining our People in East Florida since they arrived, [which] doesn't come to more than three pence a day a head.” That cost was especially noteworthy when compared to the expenses of all the settlements that employed Negro slaves in the Province, “Their expenses being above double that sum, [it] now appears from the account of provisions and cloathing that it wasn't possible either to subsist or cloath people for less than I have done.” The partnership meeting, Turnbull declared, would be in April 1774 when Mr. Grenville's heirs would be of legal age and a final settlement would be possible. He posed an alternative to complete dissolution by setting aside 10,000 acres for joint cultivation and dividing all the rest. Cultivated land that had already been cleared and planted could be easily and precisely divided, which was a more difficult task for uncultivated tracts. Since Turnbull was “best acquainted” with the tracts he promised to have “everything on such a footing as may facilitate the advantage of the whole and ascertain the property of each.” Until then he planned “to keep on our partnership until I raise the settlement to 10,000 Sterling a year clear,” when the partners would meet and settle affairs. It was Turnbull's hope that Duncan and his wife, Lady Mary, would visit East Florida and Smyrnéa at that time. In expectation of such a visit, Turnbull said: “I will begin a house for you next year as a venture. There must be a good house at any rate for the person who looks after the settlement. As you are in a climate like that of East Florida I beg your attention to the cultivation of everything. Sugar and vines in particular,” paying attention–as Turnbull was doing in Florida– “to the heat of the weather in winter and summer by the thermometer to enable us to judge whether sugars will succeed with us or not and whether the winter cold kills standing canes or not....” He also asked Duncan to ascertain how Italians “prevent their wines from fermenting in hot weather” and how they prepare “sweetmeats or confections made with Valencia sugars.” During the trip from England to Florida, where he hoped to arrive by mid-September, Turnbull planned a stop at Madeira to view grape cultivation. Dundee City Archive George Ramsay to the Earl of Temple at Stowe House London, July 3, 1772 Ramsay had been untangling the record of finances at Smyrnéa and complained that Turnbull made so many blunders in copying accounts that the project took longer than expected. “In looking over the whole You will be pleased to note that I have closed the money laid out by Mr. Turnbull and brought them into the account current under two articles.” The first article called for the settlers at Smyrnéa to repay their share of the money expended, “and for which the whole produce of the settlement is to be applied towards the discharge of the money. As soon as people have paid off the debt they are to have leases of terms of eleven or a greater number of years, and are to pay one-half of the produce to Proprietors as rent; as people save money they will purchase Negroes to enable them to make greater quantities of Indigo and other produce.” The second article in “Account Current will remain on as Proprietor's capital for lands and interest in the people, in the following proportions: For which there is a prospect of receiving 1000 a year for each 1/5th share. Ramsay sent the account books to the Earl of Temple and shared his judgments and recommendations. “Considering the undertaking and the situation Turnbull was in frequently, allowances ought to be made: Besides a partner would not submit to have trifles object to for want of vouchers as might be required from a clerk or servant.” After clarifying the bookkeeping, Ramsay arranged some accounts and certificates that may show [confusing aspects] at the settlement and pointing out which articles may be objected to so that they can be considered at the final settlement. 1. Ramsay recommended it was not necessary for Mr. Archibald Nielson to remain in Florida. 2. One of the “settlers has been keeping records of debts of the people to the proprietors, and they are more satisfied with this [method] than with having strangers keep them.” The total debt the settlers were still obliged to pay off was £14,149.12.9. 3. In the future, any provisions Turnbull may want from Carolina will require a copy of the account be submitted to Ramsay in London. Clothing for the settlers will be sent regularly every year. Ramsay thought that somehow, this expense might be saved. 5. According to Turnbull's directive, the People are to pay no interest for the money they have been advanced for maintaining and cloathing them in America. They are only to pay the principal. The Negroes are charged to the People as they were purchased to prepare houses and continue employed for their present benefit, there are only twenty five remaining of them. Dundee City Archive Andrew Turnbull to George Ramsay London, July 12, 1772 Turnbull wanted to acquaint Ramsay “that the Jew broker who sold New Smyrna indigo advised Thomas Nixon some days ago that Reynolds, one of the buyers, was bankrupt. We were at dinner when this was mentioned.” Nixon was apparently unaware “that he was a debtor of ours; the broker being the buyer at the sale and the indigo, when knocked down being put in name of Lara by his own desire.” Turnbull absolved Nixon of guilt in the matter. Turnbull wrote to Ramsay again on July 21 from Deal, England, to further vent his feelings concerning the brokers Lary and Levy, and a Mr. Reynolds who had fallen into insolvency. Turnbull apparently suspected that the three men were in collusion concerning the purchase of the 1771 indigo crop from Smyrnéa, and held Lary and Levy responsible for the losses. Dundee City Archive Frederick George Mulcaster to James Grant St. Augustine, August 26, 1772 . . . “[James] Penman we expect [from England] in about five or six weeks. The Dr. [Turnbull] seems not to be ready according to your Lt. [Gov.], nobody has heard from him this post. I fancy he occasionally wants a little of your advice, he has frequently experienced it, and therefore will the more severely feel the loss of it. I am afraid Smyrna will not produce great things this season except in the provisions which I hear they will succeed in pretty well. “Poor Parson Fraser, died lately upon St. Marys [River] in his way to Georgia. He had been drunk for several days before so that with the bad rum and the heat he kicked.” James Grant Papers The Reverend John Forbes to James Grant St. Augustine, August 28, 1772 “....Since the 4th of June we have had the most moderate warm weather, almost daily showers that the heart of an indigo planter could desire. It is a most extraordinary season that suits all soils and various produce and such since that time this season has seen everybody highly satisfied and all enjoying a state of good health, owing chiefly I believe to our having had no westerly winds....Doctor Turnbull will have great plenty of provisions, but not so much indigo as he sent to market last year....” James Grant Papers Andrew Turnbull to George Ramsay Smyrnéa, December 12, 1772 After a twelve week voyage, Turnbull arrived back in East Florida on the 8th of October. The indigo made in his absence amounted to 9,065 in weight, which was not two-thirds of what he had expected based on the number of acres that had been planted. Turnbull blamed the intense cold of the preceding winter and the drought that occurred in the spring for the poor harvest. Frosts during an uncommonly severe December killed all the indigo plants in the province, except 200 acres at New Smyrna, but a few months later these two-hundred acres were “burned up by heat and drought.” In anticipation of a problematic crop, Turnbull had given orders to plant anew in fresh seed in March, the proper season for planting indigo in East Florida. But even these measures failed when the normal March rains failed to materialize. Not even a light shower happened until mid June, and “not a leaf appeared” until three months after planting. As a consequence, the first cutting of indigo plants, which usually occurs in May and June, did not happen until late August, which led to the loss of half of our best season for steeping in the vats and making indigo. One unlucky year followed another, Turnbull lamented: “...we made no indigo this year until August, and none last after July, having been deprived of maybe half our crop both years. In one by a droughty spring, in the other by swarms of destructive worms.” He hoped for better success in the future, and had taken measures to that end by acquiring “watering engines and other machinery, which I am going to try, we'll get one better of these inconveniences and drawbacks.” In meantime, Turnbull said, the workers were “busy putting so much land in order that, even with accidents, I hope to have from 15,000 to 18,000 weight of indigo next summer, and much more if the season is favorable.” The settlement was equipped with twenty single or ten double sets of vats, and an additional twenty single vats were being prepared for the following spring. In 1772, three times more land was placed in cultivation than for the previous year, when one crop amounted to 9,000 weight of Indigo. From these circumstances, he expected to harvest 15,000 to 18,000 pounds of indigo dye in the coming year. Experience had also taught him and the workers how to produce better quality due. “One season more of experience will render us very expert.” Based on experiments conducted last summer, management at Smyrnéa had discovered that it was necessary to use large boilers to heat the water for the soaking vats. Turnbull therefore ordered ten copper boilers from Charleston, which, if they did not arrive in June will lead to the loss of at least 500 Guineas. Striking a positive note in closing the letter, Turnbull said the settlers were in “robust health and high spirits. Every thing was conducted in my absence with attention, prudence, and economy.” Dundee City Archive |