A Conference Between His Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esq; Captain-General and Governour in Chief of His Majesty's Province of Massachuset's Bay in ... the Chief Sachems of Several Indian Tribes,
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Library of Congress
N044099
Conference took place in July 1732.
London: printed for N. Cholmondeley; and sold by E. Nutt; A. Dodd; and the booksellers of London and Westminster, 1732. 28, 4p.; 8°
Jonathan Belcher was an American businessman and politician from the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Background
Jonathan Belcher was born on January 8, 1681, at Cambridge. He was descended from Andrew Belcher, the first of his family to emigrate from England to Massachusetts, son of Thomas Belcher of London, clothworker, and grandson of Robert Belcher of Kingswood, Wiltshire, weaver. The date of Andrew's arrival in New England is unknown but we find him keeping a tavern in Cambridge from 1654 to 1673. He married a sister of Deputy-Governor Danforth, and his second son by this marriage, another Andrew, lived at various times at Hartford, Cambridge, Charlestown, and Boston. Through his marriage to Sarah Gilbert of Hartford he eventually inherited a large property at Meriden which passed to his son Jonathan. The future governor's background was thus intercolonial from his earliest connections, so that Gov. Talcott of Connecticut later wrote to him that "our Assembly look upon you to be at least half a Connecticut man by birth. " Jonathan's father became a prosperous merchant and was a member of the Massachusetts Council from 1702 until his death, November 6, 1717. His second daughter Elizabeth married Daniel Oliver and became the mother of Lieutenant-Governor Andrew Oliver and of Chief Justice Peter Oliver. Her sister Mary married George Vaughan of Portsmouth, afterward lieutenant-governor. With such a setting, the career of Jonathan as merchant and politician was obviously a natural one.
Education
Jonathan studied at Harvard, where he graduated in 1699.
Career
Afther graduation Jonathan went to Europe, traveling somewhat extensively on the continent as well as in England, for a number of years. Returning to Boston, he established himself as a merchant and accumulated a considerable fortune. Belcher's political career began with his election to the Massachusetts Council in 1718. He was reelected in 1719, 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, and 1729, but his last election was negatived by Gov. Burnet. The perennial question of the executive's salary as a dispute between governor and Assembly was in especial evidence during Burnet's term, and in 1728 Belcher was appointed by the House to represent its side of the case in England as a colleague of the colony's regular agent, Francis Wilks.
Two months earlier Belcher had also been appointed by the Connecticut Assembly to attempt to secure a reversal in England of the decision in the important case of Winthrop vs. Lechmere, which was threatening the validity of all land titles in the colony. He arrived in London early in 1729, and, soon after, word was received of the death of Gov. Burnet. Belcher, with the advantage of being on the spot at the critical moment, secured the post for himself, the government being probably partly influenced by the facts that he was colonial born and at the same time a "prerogative man, " and so presumably pleasing to parties on both sides of the water.
His commission was dated January 8, 1729/30, and he landed in Boston on August 10 as governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. From the nature of its duties, the position of royal governor in energetic, liberty-loving colonies was one in which it was impossible to please all. The difficulties were rather enhanced than diminished when the governor was a son of the colony. Belcher's term offered no exception. There was the inevitable and interminable quarrel over the salary question, but in Belcher's case there were other factors which led to his eventual downfall. He was fond of office, and as governor tried to compromise by maintaining the royal prerogative sufficiently to retain his post, and by advancing colonial interests, at the expense of the Crown, to maintain his popularity at home. The colonials had by this time thoroughly awakened to the value of their natural resources, and the larger business men were striving to "utilize them through commerce. "
One sphere of speculation was the eastern territory of Maine, and there Belcher came into conflict with royal authority which was trying to retain control of the timber. Moreover, a rapidly expanding commerce had created currency difficulties, and when an unsound scheme was set on foot to found a "Land Bank" to issue notes, Belcher promptly took sides with the more conservative business elements. The object was good but the methods of reducing the opposition indulged in by the governor and the conservatives were highhanded and drastic.
A boundary dispute between Massachusetts and New Hampshire brought about much ill-feeling. In this case Belcher was accused, unjustly apparently, of accepting a bribe. Finally, a group of enemies brought charges against him in England, some of which were signed with forged names, and he was dismissed from both governorships May 7, 1741. A few years later, he went to England, rehabilitated himself in the opinion of the English government, and in July 1746 was appointed governor of New Jersey, the commission being dated the following February and he himself arriving in his new province in August. Although serious riots occurred over the land question, his term there was much more tranquil than in New England and, on the whole, satisfactory. He was greatly interested in the founding of the College of New Jersey (Princeton), and on his death bequeathed his library of 374 volumes to that institution. It had been proposed to give to the present Nassau Hall the name "Belcher Hall, " but he had declined the honor and suggested the name now in use.
Achievements
Jonathan Belcher achieved success serving as Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay (1730-1741); Governor of the Province of New Hampshire (1730–1741); and the 9th Governor of the Province of New Jersey (1747-1757). He also founded the College of New Jersey (Princeton), and on his death bequeathed his library of 374 volumes to that institution.
(The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration a...)
Membership
Jonathan Belcher was a member of the Massachusetts Council (1718, 1719, 1720, 1722, 1723, 1726, 1727, and 1729).
Personality
Belcher's temper was irascible and his language vituperative. His words as well as his acts constantly created enemies for him. With wealth, literary tastes, and unusual advantages in travel, he yet remained an uncultured man of small views. He was sanctimonious yet showered abusive epithets on all who differed from him. Aggressive where he felt he had the power, no one could fawn lower to secure advantages for himself and his family. He was vain and self-seeking but as an official was by no means below the average of the day, and in such matters as his opposition to unsound currency in Massachusetts and in the founding of Princeton he rendered genuine service.
Connections
On January 8, 1705, Jonathan Belcher married Mary, daughter of Lieutenant-Governor William Partridge of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; she died on October 6, 1736, and on September 9, 1748, he married Mary Louisa Emilia Teal in Burlington, New Jersey.
Father:
Andrew Belcher
He was a member of the Massachusetts Council from 1702 until his death, November 6, 1717.
