Dummer was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on October 17, 1727, and was sworn on May 19, 1728: The Honble Wm Dummer Esq' having recd His Majestys Commission, bearing date ye 17th Oct 1727, continuing him Lieutt Governour of this His Majestys Province of ye Massachusetts Bay, ye same was published at the Board, and then His Honour took the Oaths appointed by act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declarat" together with the Oath of Abjuration & took an oath for the true & faithfull discharge of his said Office, as also the usual oath to take due care that ye sever Acts referring to Navigation be observed.1 Dummer was Lieutenant-Governor from October 5, 1716, to June 11, 1730. He was Acting Governor from January 2, 1723, to July 19, 1728; and again from September 10, 1729, to June 11, 1730.2 SPENCER PHIPS 3 was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on April 29, 1732, and was sworn August 8: 1 Council Records, ix. 37-38. * See pp. 68, 71, above. The following extracts are taken from the originals in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society: I am of your mind that some Gentlemen who set up for the onely Patriots, are far from being so, & it is my firm beleif that in the present Situation of Our Affairs the Governour's friends are the true friends of the Countrey. You'l see by my Publick letter that I have not conceal'd these sentiments, notwithstanding I beleive that my free expressing them will procure my Quietus this next session; especially if I may beleive Colo Tayler, that Mr Cook is the great Darling of his Countrey, & carries what points he pleases in the Assembly. . . . Col° Tayler is putting in for my Brother's Commission, & by one method or another has rais'd a very considerable interest, yet I think I shall be able to defeat him. I can't think it proper that a man who does not so much as profess the least respect for our Excellent Governour, should be his Lieutenant (J. Dummer to E. Quincy, April 25, 1721, 91. M. 9). I have by every Ship given you an account of the State of your affairs here, & Mr Belcher, who is just on the point of sailing, will write you from Boston how it now stands. As for M Belcher, I have not convers'd with him lately, because He Join'd with my Lord Cobham a Relation to Colo Tayler in Boston, to get him into my Brother's place. I took no measures to oppose him, having my Brother's letter, wherein he Assur'd me He would not hold his Commission a minute after Belcher's arrival. And therefore I thought it improper to give my friends & my selfe trouble to no purpose. However I could not but resent the injury (J. Dummer to J. Talcott, May 19, 1730, 81. 1. 34). * On June 19, 1716, the House granted the petition of Spencer Bennet to The Honble Spencer Phipps Esq' having received his Majesty's Commission bearing date at St James's the twenty ninth day of April 1732 appointing him Lieutenant Governour of this Province in the room of the late Honble William Taylor Decd his Excellency ordered the same to be this day published in Council. Which was done in the manner *following. The Drums beat and the Trumpets sounded about the Court House, and the Doors of the Council Chamber being set open, the Justices and Military Officers and other Gentlemen attended and the Commission was publicly read at the Board; and then His Honour took the oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance and Supremacy, repeated & subscribed the Test or Declaration and the Oath of abjuration, and took an oath for the faithfull discharge of his said Office of Lieutt Governour.1 Phips was Lieutenant-Governor from August 8, 1732, to his death on April 4, 1757.2 He was Acting Governor from September 15, 1749, to August 7, 1753; and again from September 25, 1756, to April 4, 1757,3 THOMAS HUTCHINSON was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George II on February 10, 1758, and was sworn on June 1st. The following extract is from the Boston Gazette of June 5th: Thursday last, a Commission appointing the Hon. Thomas Hutchinson Esq; Lieutenant-Governour of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, was publickly read at the Council-Chamber, before his Excellency the Governor, the Honourable his Majesty's Council, and the Honourable House of Representatives. change his name to Spencer Phips, and a bill to that effect was passed June 23: see Massachusetts House Journals, June 19, 22, 23, pp. 19, 23, 24; Massachusetts Province Laws, ii. 66, ix. 476. 1 Council Records, ix. 374. August 8, 1734, is also the date given in Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, p. 35: see Publications of this Society, ii. 300. On the other hand there is in the Massachusetts Archives, xlviii. 498-499, a printed form containing (on inside pages) the oaths, which bears the autograph signature of "Spen' Phips" and the endorsement "Sworn the 11th Day of August 1732. Before me J Belcher," Belcher's signature being in autograph, while the other words are in the hand of Secretary Willard. 2 See p. 78 note 1, above. * See pp. 76, 77, above. 4 See Publications of this Society, ii. 302. In the Council Records (xiii. 404) for June 1, 1758, nothing is said about the oaths taken by Hutchinson. As was also, at the same Time and Place, a Commission appointing the Hon. Andrew Oliver, Esq; Secretary of said Province (p. 3/1). Hutchinson was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on March 13, 1761, and was sworn November 26: Thomas Hutchinson Esq' appointed by his Majesty to be Lieutenant Governor, and Andrew Oliver Esq' appointed to be Secretary of the Province aforesaid severally took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy repeated and Subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration and an Oath that they would respectively faithfully perform the Duties of the respective offices to which they are appointed as aforesaid according to the best of their Skill and Judgment. before me FRA BERNARD 1 Hutchinson was Lieutenant-Governor from June 1, 1758, to March 14, 1771. He was Acting Governor from June 3 to August 2, 1760; and again from August 2, 1769, to March 14, 1771.2 ANDREW OLIVER was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on October 19, 1770, and was sworn March 14, 1771: Andrew Oliver Esq' appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Province aforesaid, took the Oaths appointed by Act of Parliament to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, repeated and subscribed the Test or declaration therein contained together with the Oath of Abjuration, and also an oath that he would faithfully perform the duties of the office aforesaid according to the best of his skill & Judgment 1 Crown Commissions, 1628-1663, pp. 209–210. 2 See pp. 81-82, 84-85, above. ' Crown Commissions, 1677-1774, pp. 124-125. Before T. HUTCHINSON 3 Andrew Oliver was Lieutenant-Governor from March 14, 1771, to his death on March 3, 1774.1 THOMAS OLIVER was commissioned Lieutenant-Governor by George III on May 28, 1774.2 He was sworn August 8, as appears from the following extract taken from the Boston Evening Post of August 15 (p. 3/1): IS Majesty having been pleased to appoint the Hon. THOMAS Honor's Commission was accordingly this Day published in the Council Chamber, and the several Oaths administred to him, by his Excellency the Governor. After which the following Gentlemen took the Oaths necessary to qualify themselves for a Seat in the Council, being appointed by Mandamus from his Majesty. Hon. Thomas Oliver, Esq; Harrison Gray, Esq; Joseph Lee, Esq; Isaac Winslow, Esq; Lieut. Governor. Thomas Oliver was the last Royal Lieutenant-Governor, and retired to Halifax when the British fleet left Boston in March, 1776.4 1 "Last Thursday Morning died here the Honorable ANDREW OLIVER, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor of this Province, in the 68th Year of his Age.-His Funeral is to be attended To-Morrow Afternoon, at Half past Three o'clock, if the Weather permits" (Boston Evening Post, March 7, 1774, p. 3/1). 2 The following extract is taken from the Essex Gazette of January 10, 1775: LONDON, October 25. MR R. Thomas Oliver of Boston, was appointed Lieut. Governor of that year against Mr. Wilkes being Lord Mayor (p. 2/1). Appended to Thomas Oliver's Commission as Lieutenant-Governor is the following (Crown Commissions 1677-1774, p. 156): Province of Mass Bay Sworn before me in Council this 8 day of August 1774 THO GAGE Governor. ♦ 1 Proceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xviii. 266. SECRETARIES In the Province Charter it was provided that "there shall be one Governour One Leivtent or Deputy Governour and One Secretary of Our said Province or Territory to be from time to time appointed and Commissionated by Vs Our Heires and Successors," and "Wee doe further by these presents Constitute and appoint Our Trusty and Welbeloved Isaac Addington Esquier to be Our first and present Secretary of Our said Province during Our Pleasure." 1 Of those three officials, ISAAC ADDINGTON was the only one to be mentioned by name in the Charter. The facts that he was so named, that no copy of his Commission is extant, and that his Commission was not read when the Province government was inaugurated on May 16, 1692, have apparently given rise to the notion that no Commission was issued to him. It is obvious, however, that Addington must have received a commission from William and Mary; and if proof of this statement were needed, it is furnished by the following Instructions issued to him on December 11, 1691: you To the Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay for Quarterly Accounts After Our hearty Commendations His Majesty having been Graciously pleased, by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, to Grant unto you the Office and Place of Secretary of their Majesties Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England. These are in his Majesties name and by his Majesties Express Commands, to direct and require and the Secretary of Their Majesties said Province for the time being, to send unto Us a particular Account of all things that shall pass or be Transacted within Your said Office of Secretary. And Coppies of all such Laws Acts of Governmt and Publick Orders as shall be made from time to time, together with Copies of the Journals of ye Councill and of all such papers as are or ought to be Entred and Register'd in your said Office, to the end We whom his Majesty hath appointed a Committee of his Privy Councill for Trade and Forreign Plantation, may be the better Enabled to perform the duty incumbent on Us, which Accounts and Copies are to be Transmitted by you unto Us Quarterly, or at such times in the Year as any Oppertunity shall Offer, as also Duplicates thereof, by the next succeeding Conveyance. And that you and others whom it may Concern may at all times give 1 See Publications of this Society, ii. 18. |