since from Cape-May, who saw nor heard nothing of them: so that tis thought they are gone off with their Prizes." "The New York Evening Post," July 20, 1747, says:

"Philadelphia - Yesterday came up to Town, one of our Pilot Boats with 4 men lately belonging to a Sloop bound from Virginia to New-York, Constantine Hughes, Master, which was drove on Shore on Monday last on CapeMay, by a Spanish Privateer Sloop, which Sloop had taken a few Days before, 2 of our Pilot-Boats, one of which they mann'd with 30 Hands & sent up our Bay, above BombBay-Hook, where they landed on Sunday last, and to the Plantation of Mr. Edmond Liston, and took away 4 Negroes, and every thing else that they tho't they wanted to the Value of about 200l. from whence they went to another Plantation and took a Negro, but the People shutting the Door upon them they fir'd at them and shot a Woman thro' the Thigh, and in the Evening they went down the Bay again, where meeting with another of our Pilot-Boats, they stripped her of the Sails &c. and on Tuesday Morning she was seen going out of the Capes to look for the Privateer Sloop, having one of our Pilots on board, and they told the last Pilot they took, that they had taken 13 Vessels on our Coast, four of which they sent home, and sunk and burnt the rest." "Boston Gazette or Weekly Journal," of July 21, 1747, says, in speaking of a privateersman's acts:

"Soon after they fell in with a poor Cape-May man, laden with Shingles, which they took, and gave to 25 of the Prisoners, with scarce any Provisions on board.”

The "New York Evening Post," of August 10, 1747, says: "New-York, August 3. Last Saturday arrived here Capt. Hughes from Virginia: who informs: that on the 13th of July being off Cape-May, he was chased by a small French Privateer Schooner, so near the Land, that he was forced to run her ashore and quit her, the Privateer came along Side of the Sloop, broke open the Hatches, and began to throw some of her Cargo over board, and by that means got off, next morning Capt. Huges came down and saw her under sail, soon after another Vessel hove in sight, they all left the Sloop to go after the other, he seeing this got a small

Craft with some men besides his Compliment, went on board hoisted Sail, and is safe arrived."

The "Boston Weekly Post Boy," of July 4, 1748, says:

"Philadelphia, June 23. On Friday night came to Town, . Capt. Wm. Clymer. jun. bound in here from S. Carolina, but was chased in near Cape May by a Sloop on Wednesday last, upon which he quitted his Vessel, and went ashore with his Men in the Boat."

About the same time Don Joseph Hautenoan, a Spanish privateersman, took four vessels off Cape May.

CHAPTER VII.

ANCIENT LOANS AND TAXES.

The accounts of the treasurer of West Jersey from September, 1720, to September, 1725, exhibit that Richard Downs, as collector, paid all the moneys from Cape May county during these five years. During the years 1722 and '23, the treasurer received £39 9s. od., of which Humphrey Hughes received £16 15s. od. for his attendance as representative for the county in the Assembly. In 1723 the tax received was £33 01S. 10 d., of which, on March 16, Humphrey Hughes was paid £22 10s. od. and Jacob Spicer £10 for their serviecs as members. In 1724 two equal payments of £21 14s. od. were received, and in 1725 £31 4s. 6d. The latter year the treasurer paid "Mr." (probably Nathaniel) Jenkins and Humphrey Hughes each £23 14s. od. for their services as members of the Assembly.

On July 2, 1723, the first court, of which records were preserved, was held in the Presbyterian meeting house at Cold Spring.

In 1723 bills of credit were issued by the province of New Jersey to the amount of £40,000. Cape May's share in this loan was £1115, and commissioners for this part of the fund were Humphrey Hughes and the Rev. Nathanael Jenkins, who were given an annual salary of £11. (In 1728 their salaries were reduced to £4 10s.) Cape May was required to furnish for ten years an annual sum of £31 4s. 6d. to go toward a fund to sink the bills. From the manuscripts of Aaron Leaming, Ist, and Aaron Leaming, 2d, the following facts are found: About 1723 the State of New Jersey had her obligations indorsed by Great Britain and a large sum of money obtained to loan on mortgage security in the different counties of the State. Under this and subsequent acts three loans were made to Cape May county by the State, viz.: First, £1115; second, 1731, £634; third, 1734, £1248.

In 1753 these loans matured and the State ordered them paid. Messrs. Hughes and Jenkins served as commissioners of the loan office until 1737. In 1733 the Legislature vested the power of selection of the commissioners in the justice of the peace of the county, and Henry Young and Henry Stites were the first appointed by the freeholders and justices to manage this loan, and continued until May 12, 1742, when they resigned, and the same day Aaron Leaming, 1st, and Aaron Leaming, 2d, father and son, were appointed commissioners, and remained so until the death of Aaron Leaming, 1st, in 1746, when Henry Young was chosen in his place, and they remained commissioners until the loan became due in 1753. The books remained in the commissioners' hands until August 14, 1765. Jeremiah Leaming, who was a collector of taxes, assisted the other commissioners in the performance of their duties. In 1765 Aaron Leaming, 2d, says: "The loans are all paid except some triAing sums, and the mortgages canceled."

Mr. Leaming further states in his diary:

"June 20, 1765-the Gen'l Assembly of N. J. passed a law for removing the Books out of the hands of the respective commissioners of the Loan Office in the several counties of this province, into the hands of the Clarks of the Peace of the counties, and as I hapepned to be one of Loan officers for Cape May (Henry Young, Esq., being the other), I thought proper to take the following extracts from the said books before they passed out of my hands." These extracts have been woven into the preceding paragraphs of this book.

In the accounts of John Allen, treasurer of the province from 1733 to 1751, in the exhibits of the moneys received from 1733 to 1736 for the support of the government are the following entries of receipts from Cape May county:

"Cape May, £97:19:06.

"Interest money recd acct £40,000 loan. Cape May, £7:09:08.

"Interest money recd on acct £20,000, Cape May, £133:*00:06.

"Interest money rec'd on acct £40,000, Cape May, £53:

CHAPTER VII.

ANCIENT LOANS AND TAXES.

The accounts of the treasurer of West Jersey from September, 1720, to September, 1725, exhibit that Richard Downs, as collector, paid all the moneys from Cape May county during these five years. During the years 1722 and '23, the treasurer received £39 9s. od., of which Humphrey Hughes received £16 15s. od. for his attendance as representative for the county in the Assembly. In 1723 the tax received was £33 01s. 10 d., of which, on March 16, Humphrey Hughes was paid £22 10s. od. and Jacob Spicer £10 for their serviecs as members. In 1724 two equal payments of £21 14s. od. were received, and in 1725 £31 4s. 6d. The latter year the treasurer paid "Mr." (probably Nathaniel) Jenkins and Humphrey Hughes each £23 14s. od. for their services as members of the Assembly.

On July 2, 1723, the first court, of which records were preserved, was held in the Presbyterian meeting house at Cold Spring.

In 1723 bills of credit were issued by the province of New Jersey to the amount of £40,000. Cape May's share in this loan was £1115, and commissioners for this part of the fund were Humphrey Hughes and the Rev. Nathanael Jenkins, who were given an annual salary of £11. (In 1728 their salaries were reduced to £4 10s.) Cape May was required to furnish for ten years an annual sum of £31 4s. 6d. to go toward a fund to sink the bills. From the manuscripts of Aaron Leaming, Ist, and Aaron Leaming, 2d, the following facts are found: About 1723 the State of New Jersey had her obligations indorsed by Great Britain and a large sum of money obtained to loan on mortgage security in the different counties of the State. Under this and subsequent acts three loans were made to Cape May county by the State, viz.: First, £1115; second, 1731, £634; third, 1734, £1248.