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| The following is a transcript of the Queen Anns Act of 1709. The signatures on the act are hard to make out, but the ones that I can see are: William Boyd George?? Davies Nich Guy Thomas Williams John ???? Thomas Pike --------- -------- -------- Tho: Rows Thomas Moorers There looks to be about 14 names on this document. |
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| This is a transcript I got from the Newfoundland Archives: | ||||
| Knowing that the English would arrive before French troops would, Montigny returned to Placentia, once again leaving Carbonear Island under British control. In accounting their defeat, the French stated that they had failed to take the island because they were short on provisions and island was difficult to traverse during the winter. They failed to mention the resistance of the British as a possible cause for their [the attackers'] failure. | ||||
| The resistance itself was led by John Pynne, who was later rewarded for his bravery by being appointed commander of the garrison on the island in 1709. On December 21st' of the same year, the residents petitioned Queen Anne to send reinforcements as St. John's had been captured. The settlers pledged their allegiance to defend the island from the French until such a time that English forces could be dispatched. The letter to Queen Anne, signed by several residents on Carbonear, stated that: | ||||
| "May it please our Gracious Queen Ann of Great Britain France and Your Land and Defender of ye faith We your Majesties most Loyal Subjects with humble submission do send this express to give intelligence to your Gracious Majestie [sic] of ye unfortunate news of the taking of your Majesties Fort at St. John's the 21 " of December anno Domini [sic] 1709 and your castle surrounded ye most day following the Enemy 1l Shortis, [address], p. 11. 14 Barron, Robert. "Carbonear Island The Newfoundland Fortress", The Newfoundland Herald, vol. 51, no. 28,pg. 11. 5 Ibid., pg. 11. |
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| whose in number about one Hundred and Sixty they received little or none resistance and your majesties subjects are in Deplorable Condition under Great Confinement in St. John s, we your majesties Loyal Subjects that resides on this Island will by God assistance Defend our selves from this party of French till your ma jestie [sic] will send us relief which no humble beg to be with all expedition, for we understand by our spas that we have sent, that they are fortifying the fort more and that they have sent an express to France by a ship they have in ye Country for more incur, we Humble beg of your magestie [sic] to take into consideration to grant us relief with expedition, or else the French ships will be here to ye eternal ruin of we your Majesties subjects and ye loss of ye little part of this province we possess- God preserve Queen Ann January sixth. 1709 "" |
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| The above article belongs to the Newfoundland Archives and should not be reprinted with out there permission. | ||||
| I want to thank the archives for all there help. They have been just great. Also check out the file "History of Carbonear" which I also got from the archives. |
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| Judy Patey | ||||