LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS

WILLIAM STOUGHTON was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by William and Mary, doubtless late in 1691, though the exact date is not known. On May 16, 1692,

His Majties Commission, Constituting & appointing William Stoughton Esq to be their Majties Lieutenant Governour of the Massachusetts Bay, and their Deputy Lieutenant of the Militia within their whole Territory and Dominion of New England in America, was read and published.

...

William Stoughton Esqre Lieut Gov' tooke his Oath for the due and faithfull performance of his Office or place of Lieutenant or Deputy Governour & the Oaths appointed by said Act of Parliament made in the first year of their present Majties Reign, to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy - Before his Excellency the Governour.1

Stoughton was Lieutenant-Governor from May 16, 1692, to his death on July 7, 1701.2 He was Acting Governor from December 4, 1694, to May 26, 1699; and again from July 22, 1700, to July 7, 1701.3

of his Administration, has made his Departure universally regretted. He is accompanied by the Hon. THOMAS FLUCKER, Esq; Secretary to the Province, STEPHEN KEMBLE, Esq; Secretary to his Excellency, and the Captains DONKIN and ROOKE, his Aid de Camps (p. 2/2).

Cf. p. 105 note 6, below.

1 Council Records, ii. 167-168.

2 See p. 50 note 5, above. An editorial note in the Massachusetts Province Laws, appended to a list of Councillors or Assistants" for 1692-1693, says that For this year the Lieutenant-Governor sat and acted with the Council as a member, ex officio: in subsequent years, he was regularly elected a councillor" (vii. 5 note). If by "Lieutenant-Governor" is meant Stoughton, the statement is correct, as he was elected each year from 1693 to 1701, both included. But if by "Lieutenant-Governor" is meant subsequent holders of that office, the statement is erroneous. Povey was never elected to the Council. Neither Spencer Phips nor Andrew Oliver was once elected to the Council during the years they were Lieutenant-Governors. Tailer, Dummer, and Hutchinson sometimes were, sometimes were not, elected to the Council during their terms of office as Lieutenant-Governor. See Whitmore's Massachusetts

Civil List, pp. 46-63.

* See pp. 48, 49, 50, above.

THOMAS POVEY1 was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by Anne on April 11, 1702. He reached Boston June 11 and took office the same day:

Then Her Majty's Royal Commission of the eleventh of April past, constituting and appointing the Honble Thomas Povey Esqre Capt" in her Majty's own Regiment of Foot Guards to be Lieutt Gov of the Province & Territoryes of the Massachusets Bay was read and published, and he tooke the Oaths aforesd appointed to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance and Supremacy unto her present Majty and repeated and subscribed the Declarat" 2

1 Little is known of Povey. On June 11, 1702, Sewall wrote: "I was startled at 2 or 3 things; viz. The L Governour a stranger, sent, whom we knew nor heard anything of before: When the Gov' first mention'd it, I understood him of Mr. Addington" (Diary, ii. 58). In a letter to Fitz John Winthrop dated Boston, June 21, 1702, the Rev. Timothy Woodbridge said: “Yo Leit: Governer is one Capt Tho: Povey, cousin to one of that name knoune to your self; he is a souldier, was nine years in ye army in Flanders (6 Massachusetts Historical Collections, iii. 99). If by one of that name" is meant a Thomas Povey, probably the reference is to Thomas Povey, F.R.S., the friend of Evelyn and Pepys. Or the reference may be to John Povey, Clerk of the Privy Council. In a notice of Thomas Povey, F.R.S., the writer says that "A half-brother John, who was clerk of the privy council, and commissioner for the sick and wounded under William III, died in June 1705" (Dictionary of National Biography, 1909, xvi. 236), and cites Luttrell as his authority. What Luttrell wrote, however, is as follows: Captain Thomas Savoury is made treasurer to the commissioners for the sick and wounded, in the room of Mr. Povey, deceased" (Brief Relation, v. 564). Luttrell's "Mr. Povey was not John Povey, but Richard Povey. A "Letter from the Com for sick and wounded," dated June 5, 1705, mentions "Mr. Povey, their treasurer, being dead" (Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1702-1707, p. 351). John Povey did not die until 1715: "John Povey Esq; one of the Clerks of the Privy-Council, died Apr. 1715" (J. Le Neve, Monumenta Anglicana, 1717, v. 304). Under date of October 30, 1718, is a reference to a "petition of Thomas Povey, son of John Povey, Esq., late Clerk of the Privy Council " (Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1714-1719, p. 408). F. B. Relton thinks that John Povey was probably" a half-brother of Thomas Povey, F.R.S. (Account of the Fire Insurance Companies, 1893, p. 452). The late Rev. A. T. S. Goodrick asserted, but without stating his authority, that John Povey was a son of William Povey (Toppan's Randolph, vi. 146 note 266). An editorial note in the Massachusetts Province Laws declares that Lt.-Gov. Povey was a brother of John Povey, clerk of the Privy Council" (vii. 331 note). The genealogy of the Povey family is at present a hopeless tangle. For Povey's military career, see Dalton's English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1661–1714, iii. 237, 238, 306, 307, v. 155, 159.

66

* Council Records, iii. 323.

His last appearance at the Council was on January 28, 1706, when

His Exey acquainting the Council, that his honour the Lt Gov' had obtained leave to return into England. And that he designed to take passage by the way of Lisboa, upon a ship at Piscataqua, near ready to saile thither.

Advised and Consented. That a Warrant be made out to the Treasurer1 to pay the sum of twenty five pounds to the sd Thomas Povey Esqre for three Months service as Commander of her Majty's Castle William, commencing from the Thirty first of October last past to which time the Muster Rolls of that Garrison were last made up and pass'd.2

The exact date of Povey's departure is not known, but it was doubtless within a few days after the announcement of his going away.3

WILLIAM TAILER1 was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by Anne in 1711, but the precise date is not known. He reached Boston October 3, and was sworn October 4th:

1 Harrison Gray.

2 Council Records, iv. 261-262.

The following extracts are from the Boston News Letter for 1706:

Boston, Coasters Cleared Outwards, Samuel Dutch in Sloop Nightingal, for Piscataqua (February 11, p. 2/2).

Piscataqua, Febr. 15. On Monday 11 Currant arrived here Samuel Dutch in a Sloop from Boston, having on Board the Hon. Col. Tho. Povey Esqr. Lieut. Gov. of Her Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, who intends on Thursday next to Imbark on Board Capt. Jarvenin for Lisbon, and so to England (February 18, p. 2/2).

Piscataqua, March 1. On Friday the 15th of February last, Capt. Jarvenin Sailed from hence to Lisbon (March 4, p. 4/2).

4 The following letter is in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society (C. 71. I. 67):

SR

WHITEHALL May 22th 1711

The Queen having been pleased to constitute Colonell William Tailer Lieutenant Governor of the Province of the Massachuset's Bay in New England and the Territorys depending thereon, with all the Rights and Advantages thereunto belonging, I must recommend him to your Favour and Assistance, if there be occasion, that he may receive the benefit of Her Majty's Gracious Intention to him, in as full & ample manner as any of his predecessors have done. Though his personal Interest and Merit will be a sufficient Recommendation of him to you and to the Assembly there yet upon the Character I have received of the Services he has performed and of his Zeale and Loyalty in what may occurre

Her Majestys Commission constituting the Honble William Tailer Esqre Lieut Governor of this Province who arrived from Great Britain. the last night was opened & read and his Honor took the Oath appointed by the Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy repeated and subscribed the Declaration.1

Tailer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George I on April 28, 1715, and took the oaths on September 24th:

A Commission to William Tailer Esq' from His Majesty King George, dated the 28th of April for Lieut Gov* & a Commission to Samuel Woodward Esq' for Secretary of this Province were severally read at the Board.

The Honble William Tailer Esq' Lt. Gov and Samuel Woodward Esq' Secretary severally took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance & Supremacy repeated

for the future, I can not but add mine; and take this Opportunity to acknowledge the Receipt of the Letter which I received from you by him. I am Your most humble Servant

Colonell Dudley

DARTMOUTHE

On June 5, 1711, Jeremiah Dummer wrote to Governor Dudley as follows

This Pacquett goes by Coll° Tayler who has the Queen's Commission for Leiutenn Governour of the Province. Coll° Nicholson's recommendation of him to My Lord Dartmouth, & His own putting in a Memorial that He had rais'd a regiment at his own expence for Her Majestie's service at Port Royall, & had receiv'd no pay, was what procur'd him this honour. He never imparted his Design to me till it was almost done, & then I told him I could doe nothing in it, having no instructions about it (Massachusetts Historical Society, C. 71. I. 68).

Under the heading "Colonel Wm. Taylor's Regt. of Foot," C. Dalton states that a commission was issued April 1, 1710, to "Wm. Taylor to be Colonel of a Regt. of Foot to be forthwith raised for her Majesty's Service in the West Indies (sic)," and adds this note: "A Colonial. Was sent by Genl. Nicholson to summon the French Commander to surrender Port Royal to the British 1 Oct. 1710. Not noticed in Appleton's American Biography. Genl. Fras. Nicholson in his will dated 4 Mar. 1728 left Col. Wm. Taylor a mourning ring" (English Army Lists and Commission Registers, 1661-1714), vi. 285. Dalton has failed to identify "Wm. Taylor" as our Lieutenant-Governor Tailer.

1 Council Records, v. 456.

"On Wednesday arrived here Her Majesty's Ship Norwich, Capt. Studly Commander from Great Britain with the Mast Fleet, but last from Lisbon, in whom came the Honourable Col. Tailer, Lieut. Governout of this Province" (Boston News Letter, October 8, 1711, p. 2/2).

& subscribed the Test or Declaration, took the Oath of Abjuration & an oath for the faithfull discharge of their respective offices.1

Upon reading this Commission, Tailer propounded to the Council whether it did not make him Acting Governor, but the Council unanimously decided in the negative. When, however, an Exemplification of Burges's Commission as Governor reached Boston on November 9, Tailer's Commission was again read in Council and he became Acting Governor.3

Tailer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on April 15, 1730, and took the oaths June 11.4

Tailer was Lieutenant-Governor from October 4, 1711, to October 5, 1716; and from June 11, 1730, to his death on March 1, 1732.5 He was Acting Governor from November 9, 1715, to October 5, 1716; and again from June 11 to August 10, 1730.6

7

WILLIAM DUMMER was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George I in 1716, but the exact date is unknown. He was sworn October 5.8

1 Council Records, vi. 379. The Boston News Letter of October 17 said: Boston, His Majesty has been pleas'd to Commissionate the Honourable William Tailer Esq; Lieutenant Governour of this Province, under His Excellency Col. Elizeus Burgess Esq; whose Commission bears Date the 17th of March last, and the Lieutenant Governour's Commission being presented to His Excellency Col Dudley and the Council, was read at the Council Board the 24th of last Month, and he had the proper Oaths administred him, whereby he might be qualified to Act accordingly; which was omitted in our Publick News-Letter of the 26th of September past (p. 2/1).

2 See pp. 61-62, above.

See p. 62, above.

4 See pp. 71-72, above.

5 "Yesterday in the Afternoon died at his Seat in Dorchester, the Honourable William Tailer, Esq; Lieut. Governour of this Province. Aged 55 Years, wanting 6 Days" (Boston News Letter, March 2, 1732, p. 2/2).

See pp. 62, 71, 72, above.

In the following announcements, the name of Jeremiah Dummer is of course an error for William Dummer:

August 5. About this Time Jeremiah Dummer, Esq; was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of New-England (Historical Register, 1716, i. 359).

Not many Days after [the beginning of August], his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, was pleased to appoint Jeremiah Dummer Esq; to be Lieutenant Governor of New-England (Political State of Great Britain, August, 1716, xii. 156).

See pp. 64-66, above.