“Proprietor of New Hampshire of the Council of Trade and Plantations.  Nothing of the moment has happened since my letter of Nov. 28.  I send copies of the minute Books, which it appears that the malcontents of this province augment in their disobedience to your commands of Aug. 8 in favor of Mr. Usher, and that all the Council, except one, continues in their perverse and contemptible ways.  And because a respect is continues to said Usher agreeable to your Lordships’ commands until Mr. Partridge was qualified, they have withdrawn from sitting in Council with him, and rather make choice to gratify their humours than obey the King, and will ever do until the ringleaders are sent for home and made examples.  Richard Waldron and William Vaughn and two or three more are them which animates the insensible and inconsiderate to run into many errors.  Nothing will prevent then continuing so but the sending over 20 soldiers to be in our fort here, and to make them pay the charges of disciplining them to obedience to the Crown and the Laws of England.  I have been honored by His Majesty to be Governor for this seven years past and Mr. Usher my Lieut. Governor and because we will not consent to run with them in the contempt of all authority and admit them to break the Acts of Navigation, they do not only refuse to pay one penny all this 7 years toward our charges for the support of the honor of the Government, but do malign and make false complaints against us to my Lord Bellmont, who recompenceth me with a letter of reprimand in their favour.  I foresee I shall be ill recompensed for all the money I have spent in supporting the honour of the Government, and settling the military and civil affairs of this province unless your Lordships  interpose with His Majesty either to order them to recompense us or order us in the continuance of the Government.

Signed, Samuel Allen.  List of present Council:– …Lt. Peter Ware…   I humbly pray Your Lordships to confirm the above Council.  Endorsed, Recd. March,  Read, April 8, 1699…”

Reference Data:

Calendar of State Papers: Colonial Series, America and West Indies, 1574, by Great Britain Public Records Office, Sir John William and William Fortescue, 1908, pages 18-19