MS46.02: William Blathwayt Papers
John Usher Letter dated July 27, 1695

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Boston 27th July 1695


Honrd Sr

in mine 18th Instantt gave yor Honor accott from time to time was demanded
an answer to ye Kings Lettr dated 26th March 1694. could obtain none, Capt
Gilbert Comandr Ship Swan bound for England was detained severll days
for ye answer & ytt day she sailed there was a Boate provided to putt
aboard ye answer of wch ye inclosed is a Coppy; wth a design ytt I mightt
nott have a sight thereof to make reply thereto butt ye wind
proveing faire unexpectedly the Ship wentt to Sea, soe ytt now
have an oportunity to give an answer to sd return

  • 1st

    As to payment of Sr Ed Andross Sallary
    you have Sr E Andross receipts lefft in Mr poveys hands when I
    leftt England, you have Copy of Minuitt of Councill to pay Sr E Andross
    Sallary herewith sentt, As for ye 800£ in receipts of Mr Watts
    being for Subsistance of forces to ye Eastward, when Sr E Andross
    was to ye Eastward itt was paid: Sr E Andross afterwards Aplied itt
    to his Sallary; now whether Sr E Andross did give Creditt either
    for Sallary or subsistance & soe noe wrong as long as ye King
    hath Creidtt

  • (2)

    As to yor Honrs Sallary
    you have here a copy under Sr E Andross hand of his ordering
    to pay five [per cent]

  • (3)

    As to my Sallary
    The Councill formerly being of Opinion 300£ was sufficientt considering
    &c

    Sr E Andross gives me ye Sallary as former Treasurers & herewith
    inclose a Copy of Mr Newells Accott As Treasurer being my
    predecessor wherein he charges 5 [per cent] for receiving & paying
    soe ytt assertion is nott true, as to ytt of any former Treasurer re
    ceiving; & nott onely before me was 5 [per cent] charged butt after
    me 250 £ is allowed Mr Tailor wch is much as I charge ye King
    wth though my exspence & charge on ye Councill was 20 times
    more than any of my predecessors or successors hitherto.

  • (4)

    Article of Mony pd Mr Westt & Oates for Sr E Andross
    you have herewith a Copy of Sr E Andross Lettr for ye Same,
    & ye Mony was pd persuantt to sd Lettr

  • (5)

    That haveing given Creditt for 1/3 forfeitures recd for breaches
    of Acts of Navigation in Sr E Andross time & none in ye presidents.
    The presidentt received ye forfeitures & as informed did pay
    the same to Captt George Comandr Ship Rose & ytt by ordr from
    the Admiralty in England

Considering the Mony pd Sr E Andross: yor Honr & Mr Westt; I have
ordrs from Sr E Andross for ye Same; why they humbly offer
as being noe sufficient ordr to me as Treasurer I can
se noe reason for.

[illegible]

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Itts ye Opinion of Some ye King can nott Apointt a Governor nor
other officer a Sallary; butt ye Allowance is in ye Councill &
the Councill being of opinion yor Honr nor Sr E Andross ough[t]
to have any Sallary therefore Objectt agtt those Articles
butt the Mony being pd by me outt of the Treasury by ordr un
der Sr E Andross hand, & I haveing receipts for ye Mony
doe judge noe sufficient reason for detaining ye paymtt
of the Mony

As to ye Article of Mony pd Mr Westt he was to ye Eastward
wth Sr E Andross; & spending his time there Sr E Andross
did give ordrs to pay ye Mony; & he gave his receiptts;

As to my Sallary I charge noe more than Mr Newell my
predecessor; & Mr Tailor hath 250 £ Allowed him pr Annum
barely as Treasurr ; Now Sr E Andross Govermtt being 3 years att
~ 50£ pr Annum comes to [150£]; & considering time in a manor
wholy being taken up in Councill & for ye Treasury doe judge
moste reasonable to be Allowed whatt I charge.

I herewith send you copys of ye [illegible] ordr as you may see by
ye enclosed likewise a Minuitt of ye State of Treasury before
revolution. & my willingness to serve ye King as far as my
Estate & Creditt will goe; & now I have ben ill pd for ye same.

haveing given this Accott of mattrs hope yor honor will soe
far consider me, as to obtain a finall & positive ordr for ye
paymtt of 851:2:10 wch with Seven years Interestt att 6 [per cent]
pr Annum will in all amount unto 1200£:2:10 for I have
ben a greatt Sufferer in being keptt outt of my Mony.

besides 500£ I was att expense in England in my goeing to
render an accott to ye King of my betrustmtt ; & Doubtt nott butt
att the long run his Majty will graciously be pleased to ordr
the paymtt of thatt wch is soe Justly due. Were we undr Charter
Govermtt all Sallarys would be complyd wth ; & ytt wth out any
hesitation butt Sallarys for any Comissionated or apointed by
the King will nott be Swallowed, Crave exscuse for my prolix
ity. I take leave & Subscribe my Selfe to be

Yor Honors Obliged & humble Servtt

Jno Usher

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27 July 1695
From M Usher
In answer to ye [report]
of the Councill relating
to his credit