Minutes of HM Council: 7 June 1697
At a council table holden at the Sessions house in St Georges on Monday the seaventh day of June in the yeare 1697. Present:
His Excellency John Goddard Esq Governor Capt Gilbert Nelson Capt Richard Peniston Samuell Spofferth Esq Coll. William Peniston Capt John Tucker Capt Wm Outerbridge On a motion made by Capt Stephen Crow, Sheriffe, about the insufficientcy or incapacity of the prison in St George's ffor that hee heard and has great reason to fear that Mr Isaac Richier now in his custody on an execution att the suite of Nicholas Trott Esq Governor of the Bahama Islands, for twelve hundred and odd pounds will make his escape deom and out of the said prison and declares that hee values not any locks that shall bee put on the doore of same. Now the Sheriffe moves hee may not bee lyable to any escape made by reason of any insufficiency and all costs, losses, escapes, and damages which may accrue, happen or arise by reason of the same.
His Excellency the Governor is pleased to have read here a letter to him lately sent from the Lords of the Committee for Trade and forreigne plantations dated Ffebruary twelvth last at Whitehall and arrived the latter end of May last relating to the present occurrences and affaires in these Islands.
On reading the several matters lately acted and committed by Nicholas Trott, the late Attorney General of these Islands about his Excellency, the Governor, tec. and the several members of this board being asked by His Excellency, the Governor, whether they or any of them knew him to act as a profligate fellow or a rogue or to behave himself as an ill man in any affaires in these Islands, it was thereupon by the whole board unanimously declared that they never knew of any such actions or proceedings in His Excellency, the Governor. Three affidavits from His Excellency, the Governor, Capt Gilbert Nelson and Mr Thomas Brooke about the words spoken by Mr Nicholas Trott against some noble men in England this day read and severally sworn to.
On hearing the petition of Mr Benjamin Phillipps this day exhibited it is of the opinion of this board that no answer can be made to the same by reason it is erronious and false.
On the cause depending between Capt William Outerbridge and Mr John Dickinson being this day called, the plaintiff Outerbridge prayes leave to amend his bill and to come to a hearing at next Chancery day. Which is allowed and also ordered that the plaintiff pays the defendant his costs as by the Court shall be taxed.
Ordered that Capt John Tucker, Treasurer, be allowed the sume of fforty nine pounds ffourteen tenne shillings & sixpence on accot. of building a house for the Governor.
On reading the petition of Nicholas Trott gentleman, Lieut. Coll. Anthony White, Samuel Trott Esq, Fflorentius Cox, William Davys and Thomas Dunscombe directed unto the Honourable the Gentlemen of the Councill delivered this day by the said Lt. Coll. Anthony White into this Court of Chancery with his owne hand. And this board taking into consideration the said direction unto the Gentlemen of the Councill without mentioning His Excellency the Governor, are of the opinion that the same is of dangerous consequence and tends to the great dishonour, hurt, and prejudice of His Majesty in this his Government by makeing a dividsion and disjoyning of the same in rendering the Gentlemen of the Councill a power select and distinct without and from His Excellency, the Governor. and which must endanger an insurrection and rebellion. And thereupon it is by this board ordered that Capt Stephen Crow, Sheriffe do forthwith take them the said Nicholas Trott, Lt Coll. Anthony White, Samuel Trott, Fflorentius Cox, William Davys Sen. and Thomas Dunscombe and every one of them into his custody in his Majesty's prison in St Georges and them safely keepe until each of them shall have entred into recognizancee to His Majesty in one hundred pounds apeece with two securities ffor each in ffifty apiece with condition to bee of their respective behaviours and severally to appear att the next Generall Assizes to bee holden for these Islands than and there to answer the premises.
(Signed) J Goddard, William Peniston, William Outerbridge, Gilbert Nelson, Richard Peniston, John Tucker, Samuel Spofferth.