To the right honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament the humble petition of John Smith of Sandwich Draper, in behalfe of himself and the inhabitants of Margate.

To the right honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament the humble petition of John Smith of Sandwich Draper, in behalfe of himself and the inhabitants of Margate.

Table of contents

To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons now Aſſembled in Parliament. The humble Petition of John Smith of Sandwich Draper, in the bebalfe of himſelf and the Inhabitants of Margate.

Die Jovis, 18. Novemb. 1647. At the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports

A true Copie of the Agreement which the Iſland-men, before the Committee of the Admiralty agreed on, but now fall from, and refuſed to ſet their hands to: Here followeth,

To the Right Honorable the Committee for the Admiralty and the Cinque-Ports.

To the Right Honourable the Committee of the Cinque-Ports and Admiralty.

Die Sabba. 27. February 1646. At the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports.

§

§

To the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons now Aſſembled in Parliament.
The humble Petition of John Smith of Sandwich Draper, in the bebalfe of himſelf and the Inhabitants of Margate.

[Page]

[Page]

Sheweth,

THat for neer two and thirty years ſince, untill within ſix years laſt paſt, the Sea-works of Margate in the Iſle of Thanet, were maintained by Scots on the Houſes and Lands there, together with part of the benefits of the Peer (the ſaid peer being a great and continuall cauſe of the devaſtation of the ſaid works) which Scots were impoſed by the Commiſſioners of Sewers, who then viewed and took care of the ſaid works; during all which time, by the bleſſing of God, the ſaid Town was preſerved, and little or no hurt done by the violence of the Sea.

That about ſix years ſince, divers perſons whoſe eſtates lies more backward from the Sea, and in leſſe danger; aiming more at their private ends, than the publicke good, queſtioned the power of the Commiſſioners, alledging the ſaid Seaworks were not in compaſſe of the Statute, on which their Commiſſion was granted: whereupon the Commiſſioners wholly rejected the ſaid workes: and ſince that time the Sea hath done above four thouſand pounds worth of hurt there; and threatens the deſtruction of the Town. That at the time of the rejecting of their charg of the works, your petitioner was Expenditor of the ſame works, & had ſome eſtate there in houſing, did for ſafeguard thereof, and the Town go on in repair of the ſaid works; towards which he was forced to borrow two hundred pound upon his own band (for which he ſtill paies uſe for) his Scot granted him by the Commiſſioners being deni'd to be paid him; But after great charges upon the ſaid works, by the late violence of the Sea, a great part of the Jetty-works were taken away for want of due reparations, whereupon your petitioner, finding the burden in ſupportable for himſelfe alone to undergo, & conſidering what the miſerable event would be if neglected, did gain a Certificate from the Maior and Jurats of Dover, under the Town Seal (in whoſe juriſdiction Margate is) of the great danger the [Page] ſaid Town was in, with a Petition ſubſcribed by many of the Inhabitants of Margate, wherein was deſired Timber for the preſent making up of the ſaid works, and a Scot as formerly continued; which Petition and Certificate was preſented to the right honourable Committee of Admiralty & Cinque Ports; and thereupon an order was made & directed to ſome Knights and Gentlmen neer Margate to view the ſaid works, and to report the danger, and charge of repair to that Committee, as by the Order annexed appears: who with experienced workmen meaſured and caſt up the charge, and made report of it accordingly, as by the Report alſo appears: upon which report the Committee of the Admiralty (after along and chargeable attendance) made a further Order: wherein they declared what they conceived fitting to be done therein. And in regard the ſame works lay within the juriſdiction of the Sinque-Ports, they thought fit to recommend the buſineſſe to both Houſes of Parliament, either to be by them confirmed, or otherwiſe ordered, as to their wiſdomes ſhould ſeem meet; as by that Order alſo appears. But by reaſon of the Kingdomes more weighty buſineſſe, your Petitioner as yet hath had no further order or redreſſe heerin, although the Sea hath done above five thouſand punds worth of hurt within four years paſt, though in the interim, and for theſe ſix years paſt, your Petitioner hath defended a great part of the Town at his own charge, and expended the ſumme of four hundred eighty pounds eighteen ſhillings and eight pence, as by a particular accompt under the workmens hands appears; beſides his charges in ſoliciting of the buſineſſe, amounting to above three hundred pounds, and in the neglect, loſſe and hinderance of his trade, to at leaſt ſix hundred and fify pounds, without any peny recompence; which will be to his ſudden ruine and deſtruction, if not relieved by your Honours.

May it therefore pleaſe your honours to conſider of the premiſſes, and that a place of ſuch conſequence where Embaſſadors and perſons of great quality take ſhiping, and are landed, may not be quite overwhelmed, and the eſtate of your Petitioner, and many others quite deſtroyed, and their wives, children and families ruined) to be pleaſed ſpeedily to Order, that ſufficient Timber may be allowed, ſo as the preſent breaches may be timely repaired, and for time to come upheld, by Scots on the houſes and lands there, and by a poundage upon commodities exported and imported from and to the ſaid Iſland; That the Peer Wardens may be yearly accomptable to the Maior and Jurats of Dover, for the money by them received and expended about the ſame, a moiety of the overplus to be allowed yearly towards the ſaid Works; and that your Petitioner may be ſpeedily ſatisfied his ſaid disburſments about the ſaid Works. And Your Petitioner ſhall ever pray, &c.

Die Jovis, 18. Novemb. 1647. At the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports

[Page]

IN reading the Petition of John Smith Expenditor for the Works againſt Margate, concerning the deficiency of the ſaid Works, his charg [...]s in attending that buſineſſe of the Iſle of Thanet, the delaies uſed by ſome that have addreſſed their Petition to this Committee in oppoſition of his; by their not ſtanding to what had been mutually agreed before ſome of this Committee, and propoſing away for repaire of the ſaid Works, and keeping of them for the future.

Ordered that Henry Criſp Eſquire, George Summer, William Coppin, Thomas Wheatley, Edward Brooks, and Stephen Biſhop, doe attend this Committee on this day three weeks, by themſelves or ſome of them, or ſome other on their behalf, ſufficiently inſtructed to anſwer the ſaid Petition, and failing thereof, this Committee will proceed to ſettle ſuch reſolution upon John Smiths ſaid Petition, as ſhall appear moſt meet, without further delay.

Signed by my Lord of Warwick, and others of the ſaid Committee.

A true Copie of the Agreement which the Iſland-men, before the Committee of the Admiralty agreed on, but now fall from, and refuſed to ſet their hands to: Here followeth,

UPon debate before the Honourable Committee of Lords and Commons, for the Admiralty and Cinque-ports, of the matter in difference touching the repairing, ſuſtaining, and keeping of Jetty-workes againſt the Sea at Margate, in the Iſle of Thanet, for preventing the deſtruction and ſwallowing up of the ſaid Town of Margate, by the violence of the Sea breaking in upon it. And upon hearing of John Smith, Expenditor for the ſaid Town, and his councell on the one ſide. And of Sir Henry Criſp, Henry Criſp Eſq. Richard Hartie, Jeffery Sandwell, John Broxland, Marke Ambroſe, Tho. Smith Senior, George Somner, John Tomblin, Wil. Copin, John Pannell, James Hannaker, and Richard Jenvey, and their Councell on the other ſide. Upon the whole buſineſſe there aroſe two Queſtions. The firſt, How the ſaid Jetty-works might for the preſent be repaired, and for the future maintained, ſo that the Sea might be kept from breaking in, and the ſaid Town might be preſerved? The ſecond, How the ſaid Smith, the Expenditor might be ſatisfied and reimburſed the monies [Page] and charges he had laid out, and been at in this publique and common buſineſſe, for the time paſt? And as to the firſt, the ſaid Sir Henry Criſp, Henry Criſp Eſq. Richard Hartie, Jeffery Sandwell, John Broxland, Marke Ambroſe, Tho. Smith, Senior, George Somner, John Tomblin, Wil. Coppin, John Parnell, James Hannaker, Richard Jenvey, and their Councell did offer, That if the repairing of the ſaid Jetty-workes and the keeping thereof, might be entruſted to them, they would with 200. Tunne of Timber, to be allowed unto them for the ſaid worke for the preſent ſufficiently repair the ſaid Jetty-works, and make them defenſive againſt the Sea, and ſafe guard and preſerve the ſaid Town of Margate, and every part thereof, and of the Lands thereto belonging, againſt the violence and breaking in of the Sea, as well for the preſent as for the future for ever hereafter, without any further tax, allowance or charge, to be yeilded, made, paid or impoſed therefore, but only a ſcot, or tax of 12. pence in the pound, to be levied and paid out of the Houſes erected againſt the ſaid workes, and to be paid but once in the year and no oftner. And for the performance thereof in every particular, viz. as well for the preſent repairing, as future ſufficient keeping the ſame for ever, upon the rate aforeſaid, and without any further demand. The ſaid parties before mentioned did by themſelves and their Councell, make offer, to put in ſufficient Security, as this Committee or the Honourable Houſes ſhould approve and like of; which being accepted and yielded unto by the ſaid Smith the Expenditor; the Committee thought fit that the ſame ſhould be ſubſcribed by the ſaid parties, to remain with this Committee, or be preſented to the Honourable Houſes, as ſhould be requiſite.

And as to the ſecond Queſtion, touching the charge and disburſments of the ſaid Smith, for that the parties could not agree upon the ſame, nor how and in what manner they had been laid out. It was humbly praied, That a Commiſſion might be ordered to iſſue out of the Court of Admiralty of the Cinque-ports, to examine witneſſes upon ſuch matters, interrogations, and queſtions, as the ſaid Smith for his part might ſee cauſe for the better aſcertaining of the ſaid disburſments, and charges by him expended; And wherein the ſaid other parties might joyn and counter examine likewiſe if they thought meet. That ſo examinations being duly taken, they might be returned to this Committee, whereupon this Committee might be truly informed of the true ſtate of the matter; and ſo give ſuch order for relief of the ſaid Smith, as they ſhould hold juſt and equitable.

A certificate from the Inhabitants of Margate, ſhewing the ſad and lamentable condition that the ſaid Town is in, by reaſon of a late breach which the Sea made; which might have been prevented, had the Iſland men ſtood to the forementioned Agreement. A true copie whereof here followeth.

To the Right Honorable the Committee for the Admiralty and the Cinque-Ports.

[Page]

THeſe are further to informe your Honors, That whereas the Jetties of Margate, in the Iſle of Thanet, and County of Kent; and the great danger of the ſaid Town, have many times and late been diſcuſſed before your Honors, and whereupon your Honors out of a commiſſeration, and due conſideration, of the danger of the ſaid Town and Inhabitants there; have been favourably pleaſed to grant ſome convenient quantity of Timber, for the better defence of the ſaid Town and Inhabitants there, againſt that raging and mercileſſe Element, the Sea. And whereas it hath pleaſed God on Sonday laſt paſt, (being the 12. day of this inſtant March,) to ſend a moſt tempeſtuous tyde, againſt the ſaid Town, (as at other places) by reaſon whereof, a great part of the ſaid workes is broken down, and ſome part of a Houſe of this bearer John Smith, is demolliſhed; and whereas not only the eſtate there of the ſaid John Smith, but of many other the Inhabitants of the ſaid Town, are (if not very ſpeedily ſecured) like to come to utter ruine and decay.

The premiſes conſidered, May it yet again pleaſe your Honors, to take the deplorable condition of the ſaid Town and Inhabitants, into your ſpeedy and mature conſideration, and to afford ſuch a quantity of Timber for the defence of the ſaid Town and Inhabitants; and alſo to appoint and ordain ſome able man (whom your Honors ſhall thinke fit) to take care of the ſaid workes, as in an exigence of ſo much concernment and danger is required.

In witneſſe whereof, we your Honours humble petitioners have ſubſcribed our hands (Inhabitants of the ſaid Town) the 13. day of March, Non ſalutis, 1647.

Subſcribed by the Inhabitants of Margate.

To the Right Honourable the Committee of the Cinque-Ports and Admiralty.

May it pleaſe this Honorable Committee:

WE whoſe names are here under written (Inhabitants of the Town and Port of Sandwich) doe humbly certifie (being thereunto requeſted) unto your Honors in the name, and behalf of John Smith, (one of our ſaid [Page] Town). That (to our knowledge) he hath been a man alwaies wel-affected to the Parliament, in their actings, and proceedings for the publique Intereſt, welfare, and happineſſe of the Kingdome; And in order thereunto he hath declared his forwardneſſe, (we believe beyond his abilities) in contributions and ſubſcriptions for Horſe, Plate, and Monies, and in regard he hath (as we are informed, through the oppoſition of ſome ill-affected perſons) ſuffered much in his eſtate (ſundry waies) by his long attending on his buſineſſe of Margate, in the Iſle of Thanet; (which if effected we believe would tend to a Publike good, and benefit.)

We, (your humble fervants, conſidering the premiſes) doe humbly beſeech and requeſt, this Honorable Committee, for to conſider his cauſe, and to anſwer his deſire, (which we are confident of) as your Honors apprehend them juſt: and with what convenient expedition it may be; which otherwiſe (conſidering alſo his great charges and expences in proſecuting therof) may prove to be to the extreame wrong and dammage (if not the utter undoing) of himſelf, and his Family.

Humbly repreſented and ſubſcribed, by the Major and Jurets, &c.

Die Sabba. 27. February 1646. At the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports.

ON conſideration of a Petition preſented to this Committee, by John Smith Expenditor for Margate in the Iſle of Thanet in the County of Kent, in behalf of himſelf, and the Inhabitants, and owners of the houſes and lands lying againſt the Sea at Margate aforefaid; the ſame ſetting forth the great danger the ſaid Town is in of being carried to Sea, and the great loſſe already befallen the eſtates of many the Inhabitants; by the carrying of many of their houſes already to Sea, through the decay of certain Jetty works heretofore made for defence thereof; and praying that Timber may be appointed for repair of the ſame; as alſo that money may be raiſed for the perfecting thereof, out of the arrears of a Scot of two ſhillings per pound, heretofore charged upon the houſes and lands there; and of another Scot of thirty ſix [Page] pound per Annu. laid upon the Peer of Margate, by the Commiſſioners of Sewers for the Eaſt of Kent, about twenty five years ago, the paying thereof having been for ſome years diſcontinued: and that for the future maintaining thereof, the ſaid Scots may be continued; or that in liew of a moiety of two ſhillings per pound, reaſonable poundage may be ſet down upon certain commodities going in and out of the ſaid Iſland, a liſt of which commodities, and of rates propoſed to be ſet upon them reſpectively was now preſented, and upon reading a Certificate from ſome Gentlemen of the County of Kent, to whom the State thereof was referred by the Committee, to be viewed and certified; they thereby ſetting forth, That the ſaid Jetty works, being by them ſurveied, and workmen conſulted with; They found that fifty five Rods of Timber-work is in decay, which requiring double work will take up ſix hundred and five Tun of Oaken Timber, that the workmanſhip will amount to as much or more charge, than the Timber; and there will need a continuall charge to keep it for the future: And for that this Committee is informed by ſome Members of both Houſes, that they have viewed the ſame, and finde the defect and danger of the ſaid Town to be very great; and for as much as the ſame is within the juriſdiction of the Cinque-Ports, this Committee doth thereby conceive it their duty to repreſent it to both Houſes of Parliament, and doth recommend it to them, that the preſent defects may be repaired, and ſufficient Timber for that end allowed; and that the Town may in time to come be ſecured, by a Scot upon the ſaid Houſes and lands, or by a poundage upon commodities exported and imported, from and to the ſaid Iſland, or otherwiſe, as they in their wiſdomes ſhall think fit; as alſo that conſideration may be had of the Petitioner John Smith, his disburſments for the upholding of the ſaid works (which by his Petition is alledged to amount unto four hundred and twenty pounds) in ſuch a way as they ſhall think meet; he having offer'd (as by the ſaid Certificate is mention'd, upon allowance of a moiety of the ſaid Scot, & of a poundage on the ſaid commodities, to perform the ſaid work (being firſt furniſhed with timber as aforeſaid) and to engage an eſtate of a thouſand pound value to keep the ſame for ever.

And it is laſtly Ordered, That a Copy of the ſaid Certificate and of the Schedule of rates upon the ſaid commodities be annexed to this Report.

WARWICK.

§

Whereas the Jetty-works of Margate in the Iſle of Thanet, according to an Order of the Right Honourable Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, being ſurveied by us James Oxenden Knight, Major Boyce Eſq Henry Criſp, Eſq; and we calling three ſufficient Carpenters to meaſure the works, it was found to be in decay, as following.

[Page] 1. That there was 55. rods of worke meaſured and found in decay, each of which rods was conceived would take up 5. Tunns and half of Timber for ſingle workes, and for double workes ſo much more, and the ſame requiring all double worke, it will take up in the whole 605. Tunns of Oaken Timber.

2. That the workmanſhip for Carpenters, Sawyers, and other workmen, will amount to as much or more charges, then the Timber to compleat the ſaid workes.

3. That it will require a conſtant and continuall charge in repairing, upholding and keeping the ſame workes.

4. That if the now Expenditor John Smith, may be yearly allowed 12. pence in the pound upon all Houſes and Lands, which for 25. years paſt paid 2. ſhillings in the pound, as appears by Scot. And alſo if he may receive according to the rates of, and upon the particular commodities ſet down and expreſſed in a Schedule hereunto annexed, and as this Honorable Houſe ſhall thinke fit, and as is uſed in other maritan Towns, he is willing to undertake to performe the ſaid worke, being furniſhed with Timber ſufficient as aforeſaid, and will engage 1000l. Lands and Houſes in the ſaid Iſland, for performance and keeping of the ſaid workes for ever, he being the fitteſt man for the ſame, as being already entruſted for by the ſaid Town, and the ſaid Town being now in moſt eminent danger to be loſt, if not ſpeedily helped, as aforeſaid.

JAMES OXENDEN.

§

Having about eight months paſt, with the Lieutenant of Dover Caſtle, and Mr. Henry Criſp, ſurveighed the dangerous condition of Margate, I did finde that there is fifty five rods or thereabouts, which of neceſſity muſt be maintained againſt the rage of the Sea, and did alſo finde by the judgement of able workmen then preſent, that the premiſes will require the Timber and expence here above mentioned.

HENRY HEYMAN.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

To the right honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament the humble petition of John Smith of Sandwich Draper, in behalfe of himself and the inhabitants of Margate.

Smith, John, of Sandwich, draper.

Edition statement

1647

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Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A60491

ID [STC]

Wing S4121

ID [STC]

ESTC R19659

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

11764876

ID [OCLC]

ocm 11764876

ID [VID]

48718

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A60491)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 48718)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 548:14)

Source

— To the right honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament the humble petition of John Smith of Sandwich Draper, in behalfe of himself and the inhabitants of Margate., Smith, John, of Sandwich, draper..

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8 p.

s.n.. [London? :: 1647?]. (Caption title.) (Reproduction of original in Cambridge University Library.)

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