Letters received from various government offices (departments), other organisations...

CO 28/99

1826

Letters received from various government offices (departments), other organisations and individuals relating to Barbados. Correspondence from the bishop of Barbados for 1826 is bound separately [see CO 28/146]. Correspondents and subjects are as follows:

Offices

• Admiralty (forwards letter from Captain Robert Gambier, HMS Pyramus, explaining his refusal to hand over a seaman named John Williams claimed by Mr John Tyne to be an escaped slave [Williams stated that he had left a merchant ship at Gibraltar following an order of the governor there that no persons could be considered slaves in that port; he had then worked his way to Liverpool and enlisted in the Royal Navy], passage of bishop, conveyance of despatches, vacancy for judge in the Vice Admiralty Court at Barbados);
• Agents (requesting meeting with secretary of state, comments on slavery with reference to recent discussions in the House of Commons, forwards copy of address to the House of Assembly by various 'free People of Colour' expressing gratitude for the passing of legislation enabling them to give evidence [signatories: Jacob Belgrave, C S Beckles, S F Collymore, William Yard, Thomas Belgrave, Samuel Cowse, J Harris, William Bourne, J B Collymore, Thomas Jordan [?], J Collymore and John Montisfiore], refers to disturbing rumours and asks when Governor Sir Henry Warde will return, objections of legislature to recent alterations in Customs Department [petition bound separately at end of volume], case of Mr Walroud following loss of his appointment in Customs, recommends Mr Henry Mears for post of attorney general);
• Council Office (new seals for Barbados and for Antigua & Montserrat);
• Board of Trade (erection of light house on east coast, enquiry re any future action on Slave Consolidation Act);
• India Board (move of Reverend Mr Parham from Nevis to Barbados);
• Home Office (petition of 'Owners of Slaves and Land' asking for the protection of their interests in light of 'the attempts which under the pretext of humanity have been made and are continued to be made to deprive them of this their legal property' [two copies, one with about 150 signatures, the other with 42]);
• James Stephen, legal adviser (his opinion that Captain Gambier acted within the law in refusing to hand over John Williams who had 'entered into His Majesty's Naval Service as a free man and as long as he continues in that service ... [should] be regarded and dealt with as free, destruction of Wesleyan chapel, petition of John Mirsch concerning holding of land by an alien, Samuel Hackett's petition, Mr D Walroud's memorial);
• Board of Ordnance (chapel for use by the garrison);
• Treasury (salary of Reverend R C Thomas, petition of William Collius Ford and Samuel Gabriel Ford for grant of estate of Phoebe Ford, shipment of silver plate belonging to bishop, passages and stipends of clergy, hire of sloop by Archdeacon Parry, erection of new churches and schools, bishop's budget and residence, memorial of Church Building Committee).

Miscellaneous Offices

• Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Lands (request for release of Codrington College from payment of taxes);
• Post Office, Portsmouth (letter forwarded to governor);
• Victualling Office (balance due on account of the late Mr Peter Rappeen.

Individuals

• Robert Aberdeen (difficulties in distributing the duties of collector of customs);
• Thomas Daniel & Company (passage of W D Sealy);
• William Dannett (claim for salary and passage allowance);
• William Duguid (possible appointment of Mr Walroud to Customs Department);
• William Fraser (passage to Barbados);
• Robert Hopkinson (shipment of bishop's silver plate);
• Robert Holberton (passage to Barbados);
• Samuel Hackett, 'free Black Man, Native of the Island of Barbados' (petition for assistance following his bringing and losing a private action which has resulted in him being imprisoned in lieu of payment of costs [with enclosures]);
• J Jordan (complains that certain slave laws passed in the colony have not been laid before Parliament as required);
• J B Lawrence (asks if Order in Council can be obtained for the removal of enslaved persons from Barbados to St Vincent);
• Thomas Louton (remuneration due to Mr Bentinck patentee of the abolished situation of naval officer);
• Denis Murray, former quarter master sergeant (petition asking for remission of remainder of prison sentence and fine [with enclosures]);
• Ann McDonald (petition asking for assistance in joining her husband who is serving with the 1st Foot at Barbados);
• John Mayers (states that Mr Dwarris is mistaken concerning the law relating to the murder of an enslaved person);
• W Moore (applying for post of attorney general);
• Robert Oldershaw, clerk to the Trustees, Islington (enquiring about Richard Bushby, believed to be employed in Barbados, whose wife and children are receiving parish relief);
• J D Parham (passage to Barbados);
• W Robertson (asking for letters to be forwarded);
• Charles Hudson Robson, boatswain, Royal Navy (seeking information about his father's will and estate);
• Thomas Sealy (passage for family of his son Reverend William Drake Sealy).

Public Record(s)

Open Document, Open Description

Topics

Government finances

International

Army

Taxation

Trade and commerce

Caribbean

Europe and Russia

Pay and pensions

Slavery

Race relations

Children

Navy

Crime

Middle East

Communications

Armed Forces (General Administration)

Prisons