Colonial Office Original Correspondence: West Indies (CO 318): 1699-1830
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Great Britain. Colonial Office Original Correspondence: West Indies (CO 318): 1699-1830 (HIL-MICL FC LPR .G7C6W4C6) Document List: Volume 31, Despatches, Public Offices and Miscellaneous; bulk 1807 Folio/Frame Date Correspondents Summary No. Windward & Leeward Islands 1807 Folio 1/frame 5 Jan. 10 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 25. Dated at Barbados. Transmits copy of General [Thomas] Hislop’s the Forces [Commander-in-chief Remarks on the establishment of a black corps to be used in the West Indies, of the British Army in the which contains “so much good sense”; contains a few points of agreement Windward and Leeward Islands] with Hislop. [Hislop (1764-1843) was a senior British Army officer who served to William Windham [Secretary in the West Indies between 1796 and 1810.] of State for War and the Colonies, 5 Feb. 1806-25 March Enclosure. Remarks on the Establishment of West India Regiments by Brigadier 1807] General Hislop, Demerary 1801 [Demerary is the Dutch version of Demerara, which is today part of Guyana, South America.] Extensively argues for the permanent establishment of a black corps in the West Indies, and discusses ways and means for its further improvement based on his experience leading a Corps of Blacks, including: • mode of recruiting (Africans vs slaves, purchase slaves in West Indies vs at the source in Africa, purchasing and attaching women to each company) • invalid company in each island for worn out or disabled, acknowledging the difference in circumstances between white and black soldiers • discharge and support • stability and fidelity of soldiers vs violent local prejudices and the slave laws • formation details of the corps under proposed ten companies and motives behind these – need of a greater proportion of Europeans, and deficiency occasioned by the unhealthiness of the climate; advantages of proposed system • advantages to economy – black labour Letter (copy) from Thomas Hislop, July 1804, Trinidad. Informing an establishment for invalided black soldiers has been formed in Trinidad consisting of two companies capable of garrison duty, and receiving same pay as other corps of infantry; discusses situation of those unfit for military duty and argues for more effectually providing for the discharged black soldier; proposes roles for black persons in an enhanced Engineers Department. Letter (copy) from Thomas Hislop, Dec. 1806, Trinidad. Due to imminent change to the slave trade law and repercussions for recruitment, proposes purchasing immediately at least 1000 boys from 8 to 14 years old; discusses advantages along with that of purchasing same proportion of women. Folio 25/frame 29 Jan. 30 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. Duplicate No. 26. Acknowledges receiver’s transmittal to Treasury, for the Forces, to Honourable consideration, the statements of the losses sustained by the officers and William Windham soldiers of the garrison in the Island of Dominica in consequence of the hurricane, as well as the estimate for new buildings enclosed in No. 16 Folio 29/frame 33 Feb. 5 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. Duplicate No. 27. Dated at Barbados. Acknowledges receipt of dispatch the Forces, to Honourable No. 10; informs commands therein shall be attended to. William Windham Folio 33/frame 36 Feb. 8 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 28. Dated at Barbados. Responds to Hislop’s Remarks - positive the Forces, to Honourable opinion overall on the establishment of a black corps, especially advancement Windham of rank by brevet to officers after a certain length of service; ideas for maintaining discipline – white non-commissioned officers from England; remarks on the poor conduct of the non-commissioned officers from the Isle of Wight, which degrades the service and themselves in the eyes of the “Africans.” Folio 37/frame 40 April 16 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 29. Dated at Barbados. Transmits herewith copies of the Abstracts the Forces, to Honourable and Vouchers incurred by the commissary general for the Army vessel expence William Windham for the periods from 25 August to 24 December 1806; commissary generals’ names include William Whitmore (acting commissary general) and Samuel Chollet (commissary general at Barbados for the Army Vessels at Barbados). Enclosures Expence Sheets - Tabular format with these headings: “Of whom Purchased”, “Nature of Supplies”, No. of Vouchers, and “Barbados Currency”; Pertains to supplies or services provided for the vessels – ship Emma, schooner Nelly, and sloop Zephyr; persons associated with the purchases/services – John C. Coleman, Macpherson & Anderson, John Reese, Phillips & Man, David Martindale, John Humpleby, William Boddan, and William Crane; supplies include sail makers account, repairs and watering. Pay Bills- lists staff on board the vessels, their time of service and rate per month of pay (currency amount); example – first name on the Pay Bill of the Army Ship Emma from the 25th August to the 24th October 1806 Inclusive is Thomas Taitt, commander, 25 Aug to 24 Oct, 2 months at 39 pounds, 1 shilling, 3 pence rate per month; William Sloane is listed as “boy.” Folio 129/frame April 17 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 30. Dated from Barbados. Acknowledges information received that 120 the Forces, to Honourable the Treasury has contracted for fayal wine for the West Indies’ troops; William Windham responds to questions: whether more wine should be sent annually and what proportion “wine bears to that of rum”; also refers to enclosed copies of letters on the subject. Enclosures Letter. S. Chollet, Commissary General to John Keir?, Secretary to the Commander of the Forces, 1807, March 3. Letter. Charles Ker?, Medical Dept.. Folio 141/frame April 18 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 31. Dated from Barbados. Pursuant to Treasury’s request for an 132 the Forces, to Honourable account of all the “negroes” [black persons] purchased for West India William Windham regiments, encloses returns from the commissary general’s office (instead of regimental returns), 1798-1807; states West India regiments are short of their compliment – something under 600 men. Enclosures as noted above. Data includes – date, from whom purchased, Island name, regiment or corps, no. of “negroes”, and price. Folio 163/frame May 12 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 32. Dated from Barbados. Transmitting copies of the Abstract and 149 the Forces from Honourable Vouchers for the expense incurred on account of the Army vessels, 1806 Dec. William Windham, His Majesty’s 25 – 1807 Feb. 23; commissary general- Samuel Chollet. Principal Secretary of State Enclosures Expence sheets - tabular format, data includes: Of whom purchased or by whom performed, nature of supplies or service, cost; suppliers included John Humpleby, Phillips & Man, Charles R. Grimes, John Reese & Co. and David Martindale; vessels supplied – ship Emma, schooner Nelly. Pay Bills - show the names of crew members, position on vessel, time of service, and rate of pay per month (example of positions – commanders, 1st and 2nd mates, gunner, boatswain, carpenter, sail master, seamen). Folio 203/frame May 18 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 33. Dated from Barbados. Acknowledges new position as secretary 185 the Forces, to Viscount of state in place of William Windham; assures to expect punctual Castlereagh, His Majesty’s communications, and dispatches received on the 1st, 2nd and 4th of April to be Principal Secretary of State followed. [Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, 25 March 1807-1 Nov. 1809] Folio 207/frame May 20 Secretary of State to General Letter. Draft. Dated at Downing Street. Directs to give orders that the 188 Bowyer commissaries at the different stations are to be furnished with quarterly returns of the no. of troops at each station from 24 Dec. last. Folio 211/frame May 22 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 34. Encloses a letter and requisition for purbeck flagging and stone 192 the Forces, to Viscount steps from Brigadier General Gledstanes, Quarter and Barrack Master General Castlereagh [Quarter-master General to the Forces in the Leeward Islands], and submits for consideration the earliest completion of the troops’ barracks. Enclosures Letter. Albert Gledstanes, Quarter Master to General Henry Bowyer, Commander of the Forces. Dated at Barbados, 1807 May 13. Concerns the new barracks at St. Ann’s and requirement for parbeck flagging instead of tiles to pave the galleries, and stone steps instead of wood or brick work for the staircase, which Doctor Ker, Inspector of Hospitals, determined should be outside; requests these be ordered in the amount outlined in the attached Return. Return. Folio 219/frame June 5 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 35. Dated at Barbados. Concerns the process by which Assistant 201 the Forces, to Viscount Commissary [Thomas] Wethered was put in the position as Deputy Castlereagh Commissary General in the Windward and Leeward Islands, and opinions on such. Folio 223/frame June 10 Henry Bowyer, Commander of Letter. No. 36. Dated at Barbados. Encloses a copy of a memorial from Thomas 205 the Forces, to Viscount Patterson and a copy of a certificate from Brig. Genl. [Charles] Shipley on the Castlereagh same subject which I refer to you on the following matter – the liberality of government to indemnify memorialist for expenses incurred re. black labourers. Enclosures Memorial of Thomas Patterson, as an attorney and in behalf of William McKenzie, Esq., to Lieut. General George Beckwith, Commanding His Majesty’s Forces in the Leeward and Windward Islands. Dated at Barbados 1805 Dec. 23. Requests compensation for expenses incurred in conveying 50 “negroes” [black persons] from Demerara to Trinidad to work as labourers on extensive fortifications on the Isthmus of Chaguaramas (cutting a canal through the marsh across the isthmus at Point Gourde), which was not carried out due to a change in the plan of fortifications; believed he had a verbal agreement with authorities. (Canal had been wanted for the health of the garrison and to add strength of the place.) Period covers 1803-4; statement of expenses included.