The Switzers Petition (1735)

(Transcribed by Jeff Friday)

In the upper House of Assembly Wednesday the 5^th Feb^ry 1734.

Present

The Hon^bleThe Lieut Governor

John Fenwick }

Joseph Wragg } Esq^r

John Hammerton }

Broad Street Bill M^r Cockran and M^r Paget from the Commons House brought a Bill for sinking a

Brought drain in the Broad Street in Charles Town, and for cleaning and Regulating the

said Street read a 1^st time in their House.

Read a Petition of Martin Friday, Ralph Chapelier, John Ulric Muller, John

Switzers Petn Ulrick Beckman, and John Frederick Coleman in behalf of themselves and thers,

praying they may be released from their Engagements on account of their passage hither,

and become settlers in this Province, and the foll^g Message was sent with

the said Petition to the Commons House viz^b.

M^r Speaker and Gentlemen

We send you the Petition of Several Switzers, which

Message therein When you have perused, we desire you will appoint a Com^ee of your House to

Joyn a Com^ee of thee Board to consult of Proper means and to relieve the Pet^or,

and make them usefull to their Province at Settlers therein,

which by their Petition they seem inclined to be.

5^th Feb^ry 1734 Tho^s Broughton Presd

Read

Read the memorial and acct. thereunto anex’d of the Hon^bleJohn

Mr Hammerton HammertonEsq^r. Secretary of this Province for writings etc relating to the

& Mem! Publick Service and recommended it to the Common House.

Adjourned

In the Upper House of Assembly Wednesday 4, 5^th Feb^ry1734PM

Present

The Hon^ble the Lieuten^tGoverner

John Fenwicke }

Jos^p Wragg } Esq^r

John Hammerton }

Writs Signed The writ chasing three members for the Parish of St. Helena Port Royal,

was signed by the Ex^erand the Hon^ble Members of the Majestys Council.

M^r Blake and Cap^t Beale from the Commons House acquainted this

House that their Com^eewas ready to meet the Com^ee of this House to confer on

the subject matter of the Message sent to them this morning.

Com^ee meet And the Hon^ble Col. Fenwicke and Jos^pWragg Esq^r went to joyn the said Com^ee.

On y^e Swiss

Adjourned

In the Upper House of Assembly Thursday the 6^th Feb^ry 1734.

Present

The Hon^ble the Lieu^t. Gov^r

The Hon^ble{ Robert Wright Joseph Wragg }

{ John Fenwicke Thos Waring } Esq^r

{Jon. Hammerton }

M^r. Manigault and Mr. Paget from the Commons House brought the following Message viz^t.

Hon^ble Gentlemen

This House and debating the Report of the Com^eeof Conference on

the Petition of the Swiss lately arrived

Here

here; agreed to that part of the said Report which related to the Paying the

on the Swiss. passage of the said Swiss, on their Indentures being assigned to His Excellency

the Governor, the better to oblige them to settle in the Township on the South side

of Santee River, but to prevent any abuses that may ensue, have Enterd into

the Resolution herewith sent you, to which we desire your Hon^ble Concurrence.

6^th Feb^ry 1734. By order of the House

Paul Jenys Speaker

Resolved on considering His Majestys 20^th Instruction to His Excell^cy the

Resolution on Governor relating to the Encouragement to be given to Poor Protestants, who

relating to are desirous to Settle in this Province, that it is the opinion of this House, that

New Settlers. The said Instruction is only to be extended to poor Protestants who are Freemen

and not to Covenant Servants, who shall arrive in the Province, and that Such

Covenant Servants are not by the said Instruction or by any Engagements the

Gen^l Assembly have enterd into, intitled to any benefit under the same,

and that this House will not make any further Provision for any persons that

Indent themselves for their Passage, nor for any other Protestants but

those that come over and arrive in the Province Freemen.

Report A Com^ee of both Houses on y^ePetⁿ of Sev^l Swiss lately arrived.

Have Examind the State of Appropriated Fund to 29^th of Sep^t 1734 and

Find good therin only £ 6g:15.g^11r exclusive of Interest due on Publick orders,

no such article being Charged in the Debit of the Acco^twhich if now placed there,

On the Petⁿ would make a considerable deficiency on that Fund.

of the Swiss.

As to paying the Passages of nineteen of said Swiss the Com^eeare of Opinion that

Settling those people altogether in one of the Northern Township may be of

great disadvantage in Strengthing the Barrier, therefore recommend the

paying the sum of £ 780:10: Currency to discharge their Passage

( on Condition that they Settle as aforesaid ) and that the

Money be raised in the Piece of the

Current

Current Year by which means its being made a preced^tfor others that may

arrive here after will be avoided, nor will the appropriate Fund admit of this

additional Expense of paying passage, nor even hold out for defray the Charge of

Purchasing Tools and Provisions for all those who may come over

on the Encouragement of the said Law.

The Com^ee further recommend that Tools and Provisions for one year be provided

for all the Swiss now arrived as usual.

And the said Report was agreed to and sent back to the Commons House.

Read a first time and passed with the Amendm^ts. a ___

Tax Bill recvd Bill for raising the Sum of

a 1^ST time. for defraying the Charges of the Government for one year commencing the 25^th.

March 1734 and ending the 25^th Day of March 1735 and also a Bill for sinking a

drain in the Broad Street in Charles Town and for Cleaning and Regulating the

and Y^e Broad the said Street, Read a first time and passed as ^th amendments.

Street Bill

And sent them both to the Commons House.

Mem of M^r. Read. The Memorial and Acco^tof James Abercromby by Esq^r. Attorney Gen^l.

Abercromby.

Adjourned.

In the Upper House of Assembly Friday they 7^th Feb^ry 1734.

Present

The Hon^ble the Lieu^t Gov^nr

The Hon^bles{ John Fenwicke Robert Wright }

{ Jos^p Wragg Tho^s Waring } Esq^rs

The Hon^bles M^r Wragg having produced the Sev^l Indentures of the Swiss mentiond

in the Resolution agreed to by this House Yesterday, he deliverd the foll^gacco^tvvz^t.

The

The names of the Swiss, who have not payd their passage

from London to Carolina in the Ship William, William Vitery Master vis^d.

Swiss Indentures

Deliverd. John Mathias and wife ……………………………. 2

Ulrick Speri Smith …………………………………… 1

Jacob Viterling…………………………………………. 1

Jacob Galman and nine Children……………….. 10

Jacob Spuhl…………………………………………….. 1

Herman Christian Dittering & Wife…………….. 2

Henry Segrist…………………………………………. 1

Henry Walder pr note………………………………. 1

Persons 19

Eighteen passes under Indentures at £6pr Head £ 108.0.0

One d⁰ ft note……………………………………. 3.10.0

111:10.0

Exchange 6oo ft C^t66G:0.0

Carolina Currency…. £ 780.0.0

M^r. Ouldfield and Col. Gibbs brought the following Message

from the Commons House vis^t.

Hon^ble Gentlemen.

Thos House hath received Information that Several Persons overseers,

Relating to the and others who have resided in this Province for a considerable time past, have

Encouragem^tapplied for the Encouragement to New Comers for settling the Township by the

to New Comers Appropriation Law, therefore desire your Hon^rswill Joyn with us in giving Orders

only. To the Publick Treasures to take care that no person who is not a New Comers

shall have the allowance given by the said Law to New Comers only.

Your Hon^rswere pleased to Communicate lows? A Letter from Mr. Popple

M^r. Popples Ltr Secretary to the Board of Trade to His Ex^cythe Governor, we desire your will

procure us a copy of the Subtance of what His Ex^cy wrote on that Head.

7^th. Feb^ry 1734 By order of the House

Paul Jenys Speaker

Resolved

Source: South Carolina Council Journal – Upper House No 6 Part 1 Nov 7, 1734 – May 26, 1736

Pgs 31-35. Feb 5, 6, 7 1734 Petition of Martin Friday & others.

South Carolina Department of Archives and History