| Notes |
- Alexander Ley in Devon
Northam Pew List (begun in 1732 and emended thereafter)
Transcribed by David Carter 2017
Taken from original document in North Devon Record Office, ref: 1843A/PW/2/e/79
Area 6: Alexander Ley
Area 7: Patience Ley
"Calendar of Treasury Books and Papers Preserved in the Public Archives 1729-1745" by W.A. Shaw (1901) p. 353
Embargo Warrants from Customs Book XIV p. 446 (meaning, a list of merchant ships that must provide a (sometimes specified number) of men for His Majesty's Navy)
March 27, 1740 Order in Council/April 2, 1740 Date of Treasury-"Resolution" berthed at Bideford bound for Newfoundland, master Alexander Ley. (Master of the "Newkey" at this time was Robt. Prance (see below); Richard Vernam, a relative of Patience (Vernam) Whitfield, was another master mariner working at this time).
According to "Gentleman's Magazine" Vol. 14 of 1744, p. 616, the master of the "Newkey" of the port of Barnstaple, Alexander Ley, encountered a French privateer off Cape Clear [ = Cape Clear, County Cork, Ireland] on October 19, while carrying 13 guns, 13 men, 71 passengers, eventually the master of the privateer was captured as well as 15 French prisoners. Ley broke his shoulderbone in the skirmishes.
The above incident is cited in "A History of Bideford" by Duncan Fielder, pub. Phillimore & Co., 1985
Apparently Lloyd's lists elaborate that the above voyage was returning from Newfoundland.
North Devon Record Office: Account book; reference "1843A/PO 2 1720 - 1760"
Northam Parish
John Gregory apprenticed to Alexr Ley 1747
Will: Dean apprenticed to Alexr Ley 1747
same parish, same location, different document; reference "1843A/PO 3 1761 - 1775"
1747
John Gregory to Alex. Ley for Hide
William Dean to Alex Ley for personal estate
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a
Reference: ADM 106/1052/128
Description:
Alexander Ley, Northam. Account of charges for assisting the Mortar Sloop when in distress off the Bar of Barnstaple by order of Thomas Benson, Esq.
Date: 1747 Nov 2
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Physical condition: Enclosed in f127
Reference: ADM 106/1054/206
Description:
Thomas Benson, Northam. Requests funds to pay Captain Ley and his men for helping to get the Mortar Boom into the harbour.
Date: 1748 Jan 12
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
Catalogue description
Captured ship: Le Pierre Marie of St Malo (master Jean de la Coste). History: a French...
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Reference: HCA 32/142/14
Description:
Captured ship: Le Pierre Marie of St Malo (master Jean de la Coste).
History: a French privateer (50 tons, 10 guns, 30 men), bound to Morlaix with an English prize laden with whale oil; taken near Barnstaple on 30 October / 10 November 1744 by the privateer New Key (Alexander Ley commanding), and brought into Barnstaple.
Documents:-
Court Papers:
[CP 1-CP 7]: standing interrogatories, five examinations, commissioners' affidavit;
[CP 8-CP 13]: standing interrogatories, four examinations, commissioners' affidavit;
[CP 14]: abstracts and translations of the 28 ship's papers.
Ship’s Papers (28) marked SP A-SP Z2.
[Decision: unknown]
Note: Extra information from HCA 30/775/1
Date: 1744 - 1745
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English and French
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
Catalogue description
Captured ship: Lydia (master Thomas Askew or Bertrand Moracin as prize master). History:...
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Reference: HCA 32/127/39
Description:
Captured ship: Lydia (master Thomas Askew or Bertrand Moracin as prize master).
History: an English merchant ship (70 tons, 9 men), bound from Madeira to London, laden with wine and lemons; taken on 6 February at latitude 47°, 60 leagues off Scilly by the French; retaken on 16 February 1745 at latitude 40°, 35 leagues west of Scilly by the privateer Resolution (Alexander Ley commanding), and brought into London.
Documents:-
Court Papers:
[CP 1-CP 5]: standing interrogatories, three examinations, commissioners' affidavit;
[CP 6]: attestation and claim;
[CP 7-CP 8]: Commission of appraisement and appraisement;
[CP 9]: attestation as to papers.
Ship's Papers numbered SP 1-SP 8.
[Decision: restored paying 1/2 salvage, 11 June 1745]
Note: Extra information from HCA 30/775/4
Date: 1744 - 1745
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English and French
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
reference in "List and Index Society Vol. 45: Oyer and Terminer Records (H.C.A.1), HCA 1/20/56 and 57 "indictment of Alexander Ley [and others] for destroying the "Ropeyard" , deposition of William Prust in the case" (latter record dated January 12, 1753 [1754])
Derby Mercury Friday, 1 March 1754
"The Grand Jury found Bills of Indictment against several Persons for Felony, for the wilful Destruction of the Ship Rope-Yard, of which Alexander Ley was Owner, and James Jones Master, on the High Seas, with Intention to defraud the Insurers thereof"
Note: this was the same Quarter Sessions that involved Thomas Benson's destruction of his ship, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Benson_(1708%E2%80%931772), in this case the captain ended up hanged and Benson fled to Portugal to escape his death sentence.
possible reference in "A Record of Wooden Sailing Ships and Warships built in the port of Bideford" by Inkerman Rogers, 1947
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Alexander Ley in Cape Breton
From "Journal and Proceedings of the [Nova Scotia] House of Assembly" for the year 1845
page 263 (Extracts of the Minutes of Council of the Province of Nova Scotia, books C, D & E)
"no. 4 p. 524 At A Council holden at Halifax, on the 6th March, 1765. The Governor laid before the Council a letter from the Right Honble. Lord Colvill, representing that information had been laid before him of a considerable quantity of Furs amassed at La Brador on the Island of Breton, by two persons named Ley and McCormick, in order to export to St. Pierre's, and that proper measures might be taken to prevent such exportation. And the Attorney General was directed to make enquiry on this representation, and to proceed according to such information as he should receive."
"Post Occupational History of the Old French Town of Louisbourg, 1760-1930 Chapter 1: 1760-1768 English Garrison Habitation" http://fortress.uccb.ns.ca/search/Foster1.html
This text claims that
1. Alexander Ley & his son John appear on an 1766 petition for land at Louisbourg
2. In 1766 Alexander and John Ley were signers of a petition of Louisbourg residents against a tax on liquor levied by the legislature of Nova Scotia. "Friction between the government at Halifax and the Louisbourg inhabitants is evident in the Council Minutes of the 1760's...Alexander Ley and Moses Freeman made a complaint at Halifax against [George] Cottnam [tax collector at Louisbourg] for his 'ill language' to them and the injury done to their reputations because of his statements."
3. On March 22, 1767, Alexander Ley is prosecuted by the Attorney General of Nova Scotia for "smuggling" a large amount of coal dug in Cow Bay to New England.
From "A History of the Island of Cape Breton With Some Account of the Discovery and Settlements" by Richard Brown (London, 1869)
p. 365- Lord William Campbell, Gov. of Nova Scotia on Nov. 27, [1766?] gives exclusive rights to dig coal to Benjamin Gerrish and his partners in Halifax, until the following April, at Spanish River [Sydney River]. Gerrish & his partners applied for an extension of time, one reason being "A large quantity of coal has been smuggled from Cape Breton to New England by one Alexander Lee of Louisbourg, which reduced the price so low that it would not pay them." Lord Wm. Campbell's reply to Gerrish: "the coal composed the surface of the island, and could be easily taken away by any adventurer"
p. 368-Alexander Ley is noted as one of those who were noted as having made improvements ("dwelling houses, stages and flukes") at "Manadou" without having a title to any land, September 26, 1767. Mr. Franklyn, acting Lieutenant-Governor, forwards the list containing Alexander Ley's name to England.
(When did Alexander Ley get a licence of occupation for said improved land? Were there any consequences of his "smuggling" ?)
p.397-In 1786 or 1787 (the author does not specify) John Ley was appointed one of the magistrates for the district of Louisbourg (which included Sydney and Baddeck). [this is probably John Ley Sr. and not his son]
WILL OF ALEXANDER LEY (the original of which, and a more clearly written copy of which, can both be found on FHL microfilm # 546, 017, containing Halifax County estate papers, file L-56)
"Know all men [by these] presen[ts that I,] Alexander Ley of my own perfect mind and m[emory] and free will and accord do make this m[y la]st will and testament. at the Departure of my Life-I bequeath my Soul to my most and Gracious Almighty Good God my Corps to be buried in the Burin Ground as near as convenien[t] to my Wife, by my Executor in Manadue.
I give & bequest to William Phips Ten Pounds To his wife Patience Ten Pounds. To their Daughter Elizabeth five pounds and to each of their children els Six Dollers. To William Solloman Samuel Catharin Margret & Patience. I also give to Thomas Crow Ten Pounds, to his wife Margret Ten pounds. To her son John Five pounds. I also give to John Burk Ten Pounds to his wife Mary Ten pounds and what say about Thomas Ley, I am at a Lost as he is missing. my son John Ley I make my Sole Executer- and if please God that Thomas Ley returns saff, that I give & bequeath to him all the Estate at Lingan with all the Houses Goods & Chattels of thereon moveable & immoveable whatsoever but if he should not return in saffty, his Widdow & c To the care and direction of my Executor John Ley and should not John Ley ever return, then and in that Case I make all Executors and Executrix a Like To say William Phipps Thomas Crow John Burk John Ley Child John and Thomas Ley Widdow Ann. and in case that Thomas Ley should return and not his Brother John, in that case he is my Executer. Manadue July 22, 1777 Signed Sealed & c & c In presents of Alexander Ley
Nova Scotia Court of Probate of Wills Halifax The within Will proved in Common form of Law upon the Oath of Patience Phipps, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto before me. Wm Morris, Registrar."
The will is in the handwriting of Alexander Ley (holographic will) and witnesses Patience Phipps, Jos. Ross, and Jno.(or Jos.?) Allen all sign.
The above-transcribed will seems to indicate that Alexander Ley's son Thomas Ley inherited whatever property was possessed by Alexander Ley at Lingan; Alexander Ley's [eldest] son John Ley Sr. lived on or near (by will, inheritance law or from a previous transfer of land) whatever land was granted to Alexander Ley at Main-a-Dieu. Did Alexander Ley own any ships when he lived in Cape Breton?
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1708 - 1779 (69 years)